The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is still hopeful of having some Women’s international action this year at home despite South Africa Women’s team pulled out of a proposed tour of England next month due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
With India having already pulled out from a proposed tour last month, South Africa has also withdrawn from September's planned tour on Tuesday (August 18), citing “current international travel regulations” in place due to the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in England not be able to host women's international cricket for the first summer in over two decades.
But ECB remains determined to try and stage international women's cricket in a bio-secure environment this year with the local media reported that the board trying to convince the West Indies to send their women’s side to for September’s series after India and South Africa pulled out of the tour.
ECB said in a release: “Unfortunately, India and South Africa have been unable to accept the invitation to tour but ECB remains committed to hosting women’s international cricket this summer.”
The release further reads: “Everything is in place for ECB to be able to host international women’s cricket in a bio-secure environment and we continue to have multiple discussions with a number of international boards about potential women’s tours.”
Meanwhile, Clare Connor, ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, said: “Women’s and girls' cricket is a huge part of the ECB strategy and despite the devastating impact of COVID-19, this ambition has not waned. We continue to explore all options to see England Women play competitively this summer.”
(With ICC inputs)
