The USA Cricket Board met last night to consider the impact of the Coronavirus on the upcoming USA Cricket programs and the steps that it could take to limit the potential spread of the virus.
As part of that discussion, the Board confirmed its full support for the decision taken earlier by the International Cricket Council to cancel the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Fort Lauderdale.
In addition, the Board also agreed to take the following action in respect of key domestic cricket programs planned by USA Cricket over the next few weeks.
- USA Cricket Talent IDs for Women and Girls
The following talent identification events for women and girls will be postponed:
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- North Carolina (19 March)
- Dallas (21 March)
- San Francisco (21/22 March)
- Seattle (22 March)
- USA Cricket Men’s Zonal Competition/Trials
All six of the senior men’s zonal competition/trials which were due to be held on 11/12 April in each of the six zones across the country will be postponed.
- USA Cricket Under-17 Zonal Competition/Trials
All six of the Under-17 boy’s zonal competition/trials which were due to be held during April/May in each of the six zones across the country will be postponed.
USA Cricket CEO, Iain Higgins, explained that “USA Cricket has been working closely with the ICC, the Emirates Cricket Board and Cricket Scotland, and we collectively arrived at the only responsible outcome given the present circumstances. We are all disappointed that these matches will not be going ahead in Fort Lauderdale, but we understand what is at stake and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the health of all those who might be involved and to ensure that our events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic. We are optimistic that we will be able to find time in the schedule for the matches to be rearranged at a time and place that does not expose anybody to any unnecessary health risks.”
He added, “In respect of the postponement of our domestic events over the next few weeks, we have carefully considered the nature of the planned events, the recent patterns of infection across the United States and the specific locations where these events were planned to be held. Upon reflection, to preserve the health and safety of all involved USA Cricket has decided to postpone them all. These events (as well as the Men’s and Under-17s National Championships that were scheduled to follow the regional competitions/trials) remain incredibly important parts of our domestic program for 2020 and we will develop alternative plans for each of them to be delivered as soon as it becomes safe and sensible for that to happen.”
