23rd February, 2021 (SALONE TIMES)
FREETOWN –The Local organizing committee of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has included Cricket in the upcoming games.
As this is their first time in the Commonwealth Games, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to limit it on senior female national teams and it will be T20 match.
In a correspondent to all Cricket nations, ICC have asked the consent of all those interested to take part in the qualifying tournament.
Namibia and Malaysia have opted to host the qualifying tournament. Each country has sent their proposed budgets, Hotels, Ovals and conditions for the prevention of COVID19 in their country.
In return ICC Women’s Cricket Manager Holly Colvin has communicated the conditions highlighted by the two countries to all willing to participate if they are okay and if they have any question to ask.
The deadline date for their respond was on the 19th February 2021 as on the end February 2021 Colvin will be joining the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games local organizing committee as the Cricket Competition Manager.
The International Cricket body ICC has commissioned an independent risk assessment for both hosts which will include the security risk, COVID19 risks and international border flight volatility.
According to Namibia the dates will be either 16 July-1 August or 1-17 August 2021. In the conditions of Namibia, there will be no quarantine for participating teams, but they will take 1 PCR test prior to departure from home, 1 PCR test on arrival and 2 PCR test during the tournament.
If it is in Malaysia, participating teams will be quarantine for 7 days, 1 PCR test prior to departure from home country, 1 PCR test on arrival, 1 PCR test on 5days of quarantine and 1 PCR test prior to departure.
The Sierra Leone Cricket Association has given their consent to ICC for their national senior female team to take part in the qualifying tournament.
According to the CEO of the association, Francis Samura the above tournament will enable their female team to take part in several international competitions and they will face many teams.
He went on that with the present standard of the team, he is 100% sure they will qualify for the Commonwealth Games. Apart from the above tournament the female team is also preparing for the ICC Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in September this year.
According to the organizers the Commonwealth Games will be contested with maximum of 12 teams. If more than12 teams confirm their interest to participate, the highest rank teams on Women’s T20 Ranking table at 1 April 2021 will be invited to participate. Apart from the Birmingham Games Cricket will be included in the USA 2028 Olympic Games and in upcoming All Africa Games.
