Cricket Ireland on Friday, December 17, announced that Josh Little has been recalled in the Ireland men’s squad touring the USA for a multi-format series starting December 20. Josh Little is currently involved in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) representing Dambulla Giants and would have to quit the tournament midway to join his national team.
The Ireland squad, which is plagued with Covid-19 infection. arrived in Miami today ahead of their first-ever multi-format series against the USA on American turf. However, having contracted Covid-19, a number of the Ireland squad personnel weren’t able to join the remaining cohort in the host nation, while some got their departures delayed.
As per Cricket Ireland, Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell both tested positive during the pre-series Covid-19 test. Both players will join the squad shortly after completing their isolation period and returning a negative PCR result for the same.
Harry Tector and Gareth Delany, who are currently in Florida, having played in the recent US T20 Open tournament, have also tested positive for Covid-19 and are undergoing 10-day in-room isolation.
Furthermore, Craig Young having been identified as a close contact of a positive case a day prior to the team’s departure has been barred from travelling for 10 days and has been directed to join the squad after returning a negative PCR test.
Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Gary Wilson departure was delayed after he received a false positive report of Covid-19 on his pre-series COVID test. He is being re-tested and will depart to join the squad on Sunday after clearing the test.
Richard Holdsworth, High-Performance Director for Cricket Ireland, said:
“We are pleased to have our squad arrive in Miami and are all looking forward to the series ahead. We have experienced a few last-minute complications related to COVID, but with the extended travelling squad that we have taken, and the recall of Josh Little from Sri Lanka, we don’t foresee any issues with the series proceeding as scheduled.
“Several of our players have had their departures from Ireland delayed, but we are hopeful they can join the squad in Florida in a few days. Likewise, Assistant Coach Gary Wilson – who we believe may have received a false positive, couldn’t depart with the main squad. He’ll be re-tested again today and we hope will be cleared to travel shortly.“
Ireland Men Tour Schedule
USA tour leg
• 20 December: USA Invitational XI v Ireland Men – warm-up match
• 22 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 1st T20I
• 23 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 2nd T20I
• 26 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 1st ODI
• 28 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 2nd ODI
• 30 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 3rd ODI D/N
West Indies tour leg
• January 8: 1st CG Insurance ODI – West Indies v Ireland
• January 11: 2nd CG Insurance ODI – West Indies v Ireland
• January 14: 3rd CG Insurance ODI – West Indies v Ireland
• January 16: T20I International – West Indies v Ireland
Also Check out: Cricket Ireland names two squads for men’s USA, WI tour
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