Women's World Cup Qualifier and Netherlands tour of South Africa both are called off due to Covid-19 travel restrictions

The one-day international series between South Africa and the Netherlands and the Women's World Cup qualifier has been postponed after the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa. Meanwhile, it's led to travel curbs being enforced, the two cricket boards said on Saturday.

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Rain forced Friday's first ODI at Centurion to be abandoned. The boards had said it was "highly unlikely". They said that the visiting team would be able to fly out of the country over the weekend. The decision came as a result of "mounting anxiety and concern" from the Dutch side. Meanwhile, the travel bans and restrictions on flights from South Africa are being imposed by the United Kingdom, the United States.

"It must be made clear that the concerns are strictly over travel issues. And how soon the team can get home. We have nothing to do with the integrity of the Bio-Secure Environment that CSA has successfully hosted"

KNCB chairman Jurgen Delfos said

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Women's World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe called off following concerns over new Covid-19 variant

The Women's ODI World Cup qualifier event in Zimbabwe has been called off. Because, after travel, restrictions were imposed on large parts of southern Africa. Meanwhile, following the detection of a new Covid-19 variant, called Omicron, in the region. With the marquee event scheduled to take place next year in March and April. However, the qualifier cannot be held at a later date. Meanwhile, the three remaining spots will be decided according to the ICC rankings.

"We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event. But with travel restrictions from a number of African countries are imposed at such short notice. There was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home"

Chris Tetley, the ICC head of events, said.

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Meanwhile, hosts New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, and India have already qualified for the tournament. They will now join Bangladesh, West Indies, and Pakistan.

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South Africa is currently on level 1 of Covid-19 restrictions

The variant was first discovered in Botswana. Moreover, it has infected several hundred people in neighboring South Africa. However, that is on the brink of the fourth wave of infection. The UK, USA, much of Europe, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have all suspended travel. That puts several international events in doubt.

The women's World Cup qualifiers got underway on Sunday, November 21. But Papua New Guinea had been "forced to withdraw" from the tournament at the start of the month. Because due to a slew of infections in the camp. News of a new variant was first made public on Tuesday, November 23. That is after the cases in the Gauteng province of South Africa have increased severalfold since.

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Although South Africa is reporting around 2000 new cases a day. But, there are concerns this will rise exponentially and stricter restrictions are due to be introduced soon. South Africa is currently on Level 1 of 5 of its restrictions. Moreover, it's the most lenient since the pandemic began.