West indies look to get back to winning ways
Twenty players of West indies team, which lost the T20 series to Pakistan, have left for Dubai after the upcoming T20 series was cancelled. Image Credit: ANI

Karachi: Touring West Indies team’s 20 members out of 21 left for Dubai early morning on Friday after their remaining one-day series against Pakistan was postponed after the number of COVID-19 cases in the touring party increased to nine since their arrival in Karachi last week.

According to a PCB spokesman, the Windies team coach Phil Simmons will fly to Dubai later in the day.

The two boards met hours before the third Twenty20 International began in Karachi on Thursday - which went ahead as planned - to discuss the fate of the ODI series after five more members of the touring party tested positive for COVID-19.

West Indies were scheduled to play three One-day International (ODI) matches in Pakistan, which forms part of the ICC men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, but the joint statement said nine from the West Indies camp had tested positive.

The remaining 21 members of the West Indies touring party have returned negative tests, the boards said in the statement. “However, taking into consideration both the teams’ welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series ... will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022,” it said.

“Those who have tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi before their travel arrangements are finalised to allow them to rejoin their families in time for Christmas celebrations,” CWI said.