Here’s Why Australia T20I Tour Has Been Abandoned

Photo of author
Jatin Khandelwal

Comments

 

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Cricket Australia (CA) have mutually agreed to cancel Australia’s tour of New Zealand for 3 T20Is in March after there was no managed isolation quarantine (MIQ) accommodation available for the Australian team. This tour was scheduled to run simultaneously with Australia’s Test tour of Pakistan.

Australia’s 3- match T20I tour was originally scheduled under the assumption that the New Zealand government was set to relax the Mandatory Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) rules for travellers from Australia.
However, with the increase in covid-19 or Omicron cases, the tight restrictions remain in place and have already forced the postponement of New Zealand’s four-match limited-overs tour of Australia that was scheduled to start on January 30.
Here’s Why Australia T20I Tour Has Been Abandoned
Image-Getty

NZC chief executive David White admitted that the tight restrictions at the border made it “impossible” for the tour to continue.

“At the time we scheduled the visit there was a lot of hope that the trans-Tasman border would be open for those who met the right criteria,” David White said.
“However, the advent of Omicron has, unfortunately, changed everything at the border, and has made it impossible for us to continue with the series.
It’s disappointing – but we know it’s the same for businesses and individuals and other sports, and we’re grateful for the international schedule we have.”

The three T20Is were scheduled for March 17, 18 and 20 in Napier. Australia had defeated New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final last year in Dubai, clinching their maiden T20 title.

Here’s Why Australia T20I Tour Has Been Abandoned

The rest of the New Zealand home summer remains unaffected. The women’s series against India has started on Wednesday while the men’s series against South Africa and the Netherlands will go ahead as scheduled, so will the women’s 50-over World Cup.

Cricket Australia, meanwhile, have announced a full-strength squad to tour Pakistan – their first tour to Pakistan since 1998 – for three Tests in March. Before that, Aaron Finch‘s side is going to host Sri Lanka for a 5-T20I series from Friday.

Also Read: Hardik Pandya Makes A Bold Statement Ahead Of IPL 2022

Related Articles

Leave a Comment