USA-Ireland first ODI cancelled due to Covid-19

A positive case of Covid-19 has been reported among the match officials. The second and third ODIs are scheduled to go ahead as planned

The first of three ODIs between USA and Ireland, scheduled for December 26, has been cancelled after a match official tested positive for Covid-19.

The other three officials were identified as close contacts, preventing them from taking to the field.

The second and third ODIs, however, are expected to go ahead as planned with a new set of offficials. Both matches are scheduled to take place in Lauderhill, Florida on December 28 and December 30, respectively.

Ireland’s tour of the USA has been impacted by Covid-19 on several occasions, with five Ireland players – Craig Young, Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell – and assistant coach Gary Wilson all testing positive at various points. Four cases were also reported in the USA camp on December 21.

^{Curtis Campher took four wickets in the second T20I [Idranil Mukherjee/Getty Images]}

On December 22 and 24, the two sides completed a two-match T20I series in Lauderhill which ended 1-1.

USA won the first encounter by 26 runs thanks to half-centuries from Sushant Modani (50 off 39) and Gajanand Singh (65 off 42) and wickets from Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan and Nisarg Patel.

Ireland levelled the series two days later, a 56-ball 84 from Lorcan Tucker and four wickets from Curtis Campher helping Andy Balbirnie’s side to a nine-run win.

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