Summer season up in the air
GUERNSEY will have to wait for their Finnish adventure.
The International Cricket Council has announced that due to the global Covid-19 pandemic all ICC qualifying events due to take place before 30 June have been postponed subject to further review.
Guernsey were scheduled to compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier B in Finland from 24-30 June along with the hosts, Gibraltar, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg and Sweden. The other two Europe Qualifiers, due to be held in Spain and Belgium, are also on hold.
‘Our commitment to the health and safety of players, officials, staff and fans is our priority when taking these decisions and we must act responsibly in the best interests of all involved and be guided by official advice,’ said Chris Tetley, the ICC head of events.
‘We felt that now was the right time to take a prudent decision on these events before further planning is undertaken and to provide clarity to everyone involved.
‘Work will continue on contingency plans and options for both men’s qualification pathways. We will provide updates in due course on these plans and decisions on the staging of the remaining events this year.
‘I would like to thank all hosts and participating members for their support and understanding in reaching this position and we are unified in our hopes and intention to get cricket back on as soon as is safe and practical to do so.’
Guernsey Cricket Board chief executive Mark Latter confirmed that the senior island side’s warm-up matches at Blackstone are also off, as is a junior trip to Sussex, while the Under-19s’ tour to Denmark in July is doubtful.
As for the domestic cricket season, Latter has to play a waiting game.
‘We sent a note out to clubs saying we will not start the season until we are allowed to and as we go through we will keep crossing off what we can’t do in the time remaining,’ he said.
That means that the top-flight Spring Cup knockout due to take place at the start of the new season could get knocked on the head and, if cricket were not to begin until June, the first round of EL Premier fixtures could be quashed.
Lower leagues would obviously be affected too.
‘Basically, it will be a case of trying to fit a season into whatever time we have left,’ Latter said.
‘For instance, if we cannot start the Channel Islands League on time, can we then squash it in somehow or perhaps change it to two groups progressing to a knockout.
‘It is too early to say, though. It is all dictated by others.’
