CWC League 2: UAE and Oman return home from Namibia amid COVID-19 fears

United Arab Emirate and Oman cricket teams have decided to return home early in the middle of the ongoing CWC League 2 trilateral series. The tournament was in progress in Namibia but the concerns surrounding Omicron strain of COVID-19 in the southern african countries are increasing. Even the travel restrictions are being imposed to avoid any spread of the new COVID variant.

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UAE suspended the incoming flights from the southern african countries on Friday and also imposed entry restrictions on the people who passed from Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana or Mozambique according to Cricbuzz.

Earlier, the Women's World Cup Qualifiers also got abandoned due to the rising concerns over the new strain of the virus. The tournament was being played in Zimbabwe. On November 28, it was revealed that six players of Sri Lanka team returned positive for the virus.

Even the ODI series between South Africa and the Netherlands was postponed after the first game of the three-match series was washed out.

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UAE and Oman teams now will be returning on the flight chartered by the ICC. In the same flight, the teams are returning from the Women's WC Qualifier in Harare. Meanwhile, the Netherlands stay in Pretoria waiting for repatriation to their home country.

COVID-19 has clearly disrupted the tournaments leading up to the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers. Only 7 of the scheduled 21 series have been completed since August 2019. As many as 13 tournaments are to happen and there are chances that CWC League 2 won't be completed before the qualifiers.