2021 ZIM vs IRE, ODI Series Postponed !

Cricket Matches, which are slated to be played at African nation, are getting cancelled one by one. First one is the One Day Series between England and South Africa. Then, the test series between Australia and South Africa and now it is Ireland tour of Zimbabwe. All three were cancelled due to one sole reason, raising cases of COVID-19 at African Continent. 

Irish Cricket Team is slated to tour Zimbabwe for a three match One Day Series, this summer. This three match ODI Series, is definitely a part of ICC ODI Super League. So, winning each and every game is important and this has been well understood by both the teams. Ireland cricket team has played 6 One Day Games in this Super League, where they had won only one against England, and lost five, two against England and a recent whitewash against Afghanistan. Other than this, they had also played against United Arab Emirates, where they won a game and lost a game. 

On the other hand, Zimbabwe cricket team has played against Pakistan for a three match One Day Series, in which they won only one, that too in a super over thriller. For these two nations, the ICC ODI Super League is so important, which will act as a bridge for qualifying in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. But, now due to raising COVID-19 Concerns, they have cancelled the series. 

African nation is due on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which along with the second variant of virus, totally damaging their home games and also their hopes of resumption. The Irish squad was due to fly to Harare on March 28 and play three T20Is, followed by a three-match ODI series, in April

Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director for Cricket Ireland, said the board would be aiming to draw up alternate fixtures to aid the national side's preparations for the T20 World Cup in India in October-November.

"We're obviously disappointed, but to be honest, it is not an unexpected announcement from our Zimbabwean counterparts," Holdsworth said. "We appreciate their efforts and willingness to try and make the tour possible, but in the end the health and safety of players and support staff must be of primary consideration.

"We'll now look at whether alternate fixtures can be arranged during that period, which is a crucial window in advance of a busy home season and in a T20 World Cup year."