Photo Credit: USA Cricket
USA Cricket today confirms the postponement of the planned Training Camp and series of Team USA Selection Matches that were scheduled for late February in Houston. With the International Cricket Council today announcing the postponement of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Oman next month due to the changing COVID-19 situation, USA Cricket has now also postponed the Houston Training Camp.
The proposed Camp, which would have brought together the majority of the 44-player National Training Group named last month, was due to be held at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Houston. The Camp was primarily planned as preparation and selection for the now postponed Oman tour and as a consequence of this, and the challenges still being presented domestically by the ongoing COVID situation in the USA, it has also been postponed.
Work will continue on shaping a provisional calendar of cricket for the year of 2021, which will include all international and domestic cricket for Men’s, Women’s & Youth. USA Cricket will aim to announce this later in February and provide an update on any future specific training camps for the Men’s & Women’s National Training Groups.
USA Cricket would like to thank the ICC and the other competing nations in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 for taking proactive action when it became apparent that next month’s series would not be possible. USA Cricket looks forward to working closely with all parties to reschedule all of the remaining ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series as soon as is safely possible.
USA Cricket would also like to thank all involved so far in organizing the Houston Training Camp, particularly those at the Prairie View Cricket Complex, as well as all of our players and support staff for their understanding and support as we continue to work hard towards best planning a safe return to competitive action for our international sides.
USA Cricket Operations Director, Richard Done said, “While the news of the postponement of the Oman Tri-Series was disappointing, it was not unexpected as we have been scenario planning for all eventualities with the COVID pandemic continuing to evolve at different rates around the world. We are incredibly eager to get our National Teams back in competition but we have to continue to be patient and practical, and adapt as best we can. I am certain on this occasion it was the correct decision to postpone the Oman trip and, as a consequence, the Houston Training Camp and series of selection matches, have also been postponed.
“We are incredibly frustrated by recent developments, but we remain optimistic that we will still be able to have a strong calendar of cricket in 2021 for our Men’s, Women’s and Youth programs. With two ICC Regional Pathway Events to host, alongside other international cricket and a full program of domestic cricket including National Championships, Zonal competition and training hubs, and the first full season of Minor League Cricket, there is a huge amount for players and fans to look forward to this year. We understand the importance of the return of cricket at all levels and we look forward to announcing a full calendar very shortly. However, we have a duty of care to all participants to ensure that when we return to a full schedule of cricket programs across the USA, we do so in a safe, responsible and cost-effective manner.”
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is a three-and-half-year competition involving seven teams that are two steps away from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. At the culmination of the 21 tri-series, the top three teams in the standings will confirm their place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023. The bottom four teams will drop into the Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off 2023 – which isa repechage event to the Global Qualifier – and will be joined by the winner of Challenge League A and B.
The top two teams from the Play-Off will keep their hopes alive of participating in India 2023, by qualifying for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023. Click here for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification pathway.
Name of Author: USA Cricket
USA Cricket (USAC) is the governing body for cricket in the United States, overseeing the national men’s, women’s, and youth teams. It also manages Major League Cricket, the premier domestic Twenty20 competition in the U.S.
