First USA vs Ireland ODI cancelled after match official tests positive for Covid-19
Other officials in the group deemed close contacts; second and third ODIs will go ahead as planned with new match officials
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Dec-2021
The second and third matches are expected to go ahead on schedule • CPL T20/ Getty Images
The first ODI between USA and Ireland, scheduled for December 26, has been cancelled following a positive Covid-19 test among the crew of match officials. Though only one official has been infected, the other three in the group have been deemed "close contacts" of the positive case, and have been rendered unavailable.
However, the second and third matches of the series are expected to take place, with USA Cricket saying that replacement officials would be arranged in time for the second game, slated for Tuesday, December 28. The second and third ODIs - the last one is set for December 30 (all matches are in Lauderhill) - "will go ahead as planned, with an alternative match official group if required".
USA Cricket said that all ticket-holders for the first ODI "may re-use their tickets for any additional match in the series" or, if the ticket-holders can't attend another match, the "full fee will be refunded within 7 working days".
USA and Ireland had earlier competed in a T20I series, also in Lauderhill, which ended 1-1. USA won the first game, a historic occasion for them as it was their first victory over a Test-playing nation as well as an ICC Full Member. Ireland, however, hit back in the second game to square the series and head into the ODI series on a positive note.
The series has had its share of Covid-19 scares already. On December 17, four Ireland players and a member of their support staff tested positive ahead of the series. Not long after, on December 21, four Covid-19 cases were reported in the USA camp as well.