This year’s domestic cricket season has been cancelled, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) announced on Friday.
The sport’s local governing body said in a media release that they have abandoned plans for the season out of an “abundance of caution” because of health and safety concerns connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following is the full text of the BCA statement:
“The directors of the board of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) have decided to cancel all plans to stage a domestic cricket season this year (2021).
This unfortunate decision has been taken out of an abundance of caution and has been driven by the following:
The continued detection of COVID-19 cases in Barbados on a daily basis;
The spike in new COVID-19 cases which occurred at the beginning of July, peaking on July 11, which has not yet been brought under control;
The detection of the highly infectious Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in the island;
Evidence that the COVID-19 virus has spread into the community;
The current government directive, which prohibits the presence of spectators at sporting events; and
The current government directive, which prohibits gatherings of more than 100 people.
Consideration was given to the fact that for the entire 2020 domestic cricket season (August 15 to November 15), 102 new COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in Barbados (with no reported incidence of community spread), while between July 1, 2021, and present (August 11, 2021), 415 new cases have been detected (307 per cent increase) and there is community spread.
Given the current presence of the COVID-19 virus in Barbados, the directors of the BCA’s board strongly believe that in the best interest of all players, match officials and spectators to cancel the domestic 2021 season is the best option at this time.
However, the BCA will ensure that all national senior and junior teams are adequately prepared for all upcoming engagements within the current Government issued protocols and directives.
The BCA acknowledges that living in an active COVID-19 environment requires adaptiveness, flexibility, and a readiness to embrace change and it remains committed to the organising of domestic competitions in the safest possible environment for all players, officials and spectators when play resumes in an enhanced 2022 domestic season.
The board of directors will continue to work with all clubs, schools and interested parties in developing the game of cricket in spite of these challenges.”
(BCA)
