England tour of Netherlands has been postponed !

 It would have been a great experience for Netherlands cricket team, which both the cricketing board were in excitement to get staged, is now cancelled. Yes, it is the tour of English Cricket Team to Holland for a 3 match One Day Series, which would be a part of ICC ODI Super League. It is reported to be the first fixture in the ODI Super League for Netherlands'. What had happened and why this had occurred ? For answers let us see in this blog.

The Royal Dutch Cricket Association ( KNCB ) have announced that they are postponing this series from May 2021 to further a year, at the end of May 2022. This decision has been taken, in the verge of ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. Already the scheduled tour between Netherlands and Pakistan in 2020, have already got cancelled due to severe COVID situation and now this tour is postponed to 2022. This is also to said to a tour after 2004, where a full member nation comes to play cricket in Netherlands. In 2004, it was Videocon Series, where India, Australia and Pakistan came to play for a Triangular national series. Also, this marks first time, England touring Holland. 

"The prospect of playing the World Champions in a full house is exciting, and we look forward to welcoming the team back in 2022. We are very grateful for the cooperation we received from the ECB to make this happen." said by Roland Lefebvre, High Performance Manager of KNCB. 

Ashley Giles, Managing director of England's men's cricket, added: "It is disappointing that we are unable to play the Netherlands in May in what would be England's first visit to Holland.
"Hopefully, with the prospect of crowds returning to sport soon, we can rearrange the three matches in 2022 and showcase international cricket to capacity crowds. I am sure many fans will want to travel across from England and be part of this historic ODI series."

Now, we knew that Pakistani cricket team has toured New Zealand for an upcoming bilateral cricket series. Before leaving, at Lahore, all cricketers have tested negative for COVID-19, which was submitted. Then, at New Zealand, seven Pakistani cricketers were tested positive for COVID-19. This tour consists of 3 match T20I series and 2 Match test series, which is scheduled to began on December 18, while the practice match of 'A' teams are planned to be staged at 10th December. Also, it is stated that Pakistani cricketers have broke the quarantine protocols, shook hands with fellow cricketers, shared food and much more. Eariler, before IPL, CSK cricketers haven't seen wearing masks during arrival to United Arab Emirates, which caused them with 11 staff members and 2 cricketers getting positive for COVID-19. So, restrictions and protocols are must. After Pakistani cricketers, Nepal Cricketer, Sandeep Lammichane has tested positive for COVID-19. He has gone to Australia to feature in Big Bash league. And finally, Banglabandhu Reserve Umpire has tested positive for COVID-19. So, till now these are the COVID updates in the cricketing fraternity.