BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading rapidly across the world and sporting organizations cancelling tournaments or suspending leagues, Cricket West Indies is taking a similar position.
The move comes at a time when the virus has made its way to the region, with major territories confirming cases of the virus with the exception of Grenada, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis.
The decision was taken following recommendations put forward by the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) of Cricket West Indies (CWI), and that move will see the suspension of all CWI Tournaments and face-to-face group meetings, beginning Monday (Mar. 16), for a minimum of 30 days.
Chairman of the MAC, Dr Donovan Bennett, stated, “We are acting based on medical best practice as well as in an abundance of caution. The ongoing gathering of even small groups of spectators, cricketers and match officials could pose a risk to some persons of contracting the virus and being stranded in quarantine in a non-resident country for a prolonged period. Clearly this pandemic is still evolving, and we will continue to monitor the situation throughout the Caribbean”.
Tournaments affected by the suspension are:
1.The Women’s CMI Super 50 Cup, Guyana – 27th March to 12th April
2.Regional Under 15s Boys Championship, Antigua – 9th to 20th April
3. Regional Under 19s Girls Championship, Trinidad – 6th to 12th April
4. Final two rounds of the West indies Championship – 26th to 29th March and 2nd – 5th April
Cricket West Indies Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Israel Dowlat, stated “the health and safety of our players, officials and staff, are of paramount importance to CWI and we have advised the Board of Directors to take proactive policy steps to decrease the growing risk of contamination and spread of the virus”.
Also suspended are the CWI, Board of Directors meeting and CWI Annual General Meeting both scheduled for April.
Meanwhile, CWI is also advising all Territorial Boards and Local Cricket Associations to follow the advice of their respective Ministries of Health.
