Pakistan-West Indies ODI series postponed until June 2022

Ahead of the third T20I on December 16, a further five members of West Indies' travelling party tested positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of personnel in isolation to nine

The upcoming ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies has been postponed until June 2022 due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the West Indies camp.

Ahead of the third T20I on December 16, five members of the travelling party – Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Justin Greaves, assistant coach Roddy Estwick and team physician Dr Akshai Mansingh – tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the number of personnel in isolation to nine.

In between arriving in Karachi on December 9 and the first T20I on December 13, players Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers also tested positive for Covid-19.

Following the latest round of positive tests, rapid antigen tests were completed by the remaining 15 West Indies players and six support personnel, all of which came back negative.

^{Roston Chase [Francois Nel/Getty Images] and Akeal Hosein [Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images] are among the players to have tested positive for Covid-19}

The third T20I, played on December 16, was therefore allowed to go ahead but the decision has now been taken to postpone the ODI leg of the tour. Three matches were scheduled to be played on December 18, December 20 and December 22 as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League but will instead be held in early June 2022.

Any West Indies players and staff who returned a negative test will leave Pakistan following the third T20I while those who tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi.

A joint statement released by Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket West Indies said: "On Thursday morning and as part of the PCB Covid-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six player support personnel.

"All 21 members of the West Indies touring party returned negative test result. As such, Thursday’s T20 International proceeded as planned.

"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, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket Word Cup Super League, will be postponed and rescheduled for early June 2022.

"This will provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches."

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