The ICC also postponed the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier Europe Division 2.

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier was due to take place in Sri Lanka between July  3 and 19, where three teams were to qualify for the 2021 event in New Zealand.

The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2022 was scheduled to begin with the European Regional Qualifier in Denmark between  July 24 and 30.

As part of the ICC’s comprehensive contingency planning process and after consultation with members and with the relevant government and public health authorities, the decision has been taken to postpone the qualifier to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 and the start of the qualification pathway to the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2022.

The ICC will work with all participating members to identify when these events will be able to be staged, said an ICC media release on Tuesday (May 12).

Chris Tetley, the head of the ICC events said: “In light of the continuing travel restrictions, global health concerns and government and public health authority advice we have decided to postpone two further upcoming qualifying events due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the Europe qualifier to the U19 Cricket World Cup 2022 have both been impacted.

“Our priority during this difficult period is to protect the well-being of players, coaches, officials, fans and the whole cricket community and we will take well-informed, responsible decisions in relation to both postponing events and resuming international cricket.

“These are both important events with the Women’s CWC Qualifier one step away from New Zealand 2021 and the Europe qualifier which signifies the start of the U19 Cricket World Cup 2022 pathway. We will work in partnership with the Members to find an appropriate window to reschedule these events as soon as is safe and practical to do so. I would like to thank the members for their cooperation and continued support.”

The two remaining ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Regional Qualifier Division 2 events are being monitored and kept under review: the Africa event is due to take place in Tanzania between August 7 and 14 and the Asia event between December 1 and 9 in Thailand. 

The Division 1 events in all five regions are scheduled to take place in 2021.