KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Simi Singh and Ben White were ruled out of yesterday’s opening One-Day International against West Indies after testing positive for COVID-19, dealing another blow to Ireland’s Caribbean tour.
The pair returned positive antigen tests on Friday night and is awaiting the results of PCR tests.
They have already been isolated and are unlikely to take any part of the series which runs from January 8-16 and comprises three ODIs and a one-off Twenty20 International.
Singh is a 34-year-old off-spinner who has played 33 ODIs and 39 T20Is while White, 23, is a leg-spinner who has played nine T20 Internationals.
The remainder of the playing squad and coaching staff returned negative tests on Friday night and again on Saturday morning.
Ireland’s squad was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak during last month’s series against the United States, forcing the abandonment of the three ODIs in Fort Lauderdale.
Veteran batting all-rounder Paul Stirling, along with 30-year-old seamer Shane Getkate, both tested positive while Andrew Balbirnie and Andy McBrine, both of whom are featuring in Saturday’s fixture at Sabine Park, were forced to quarantine after being identified as close contacts of positive cases.
Ireland face West Indies in the second ODI next Tuesday and the final one next Friday, with both matches set for Sabina Park.
The single T20 International will be played on January 16 at the same venue.
