IND vs WI: Teams To Fly To Guyana For US Visas On Wednesday; Cricket West Indies Hopeful

There are around four days until the first of the two Florida T20 International matches between West Indies and India, and there is currently no sign that the sides will be able to travel to the United States. 

Some members of both teams, including players, have so far not been granted US visas, Cricbuzz has reported during the past two days. 

The hosts of the matches, Cricket West Indies (CWI), haven’t given up hope, though, as the most recent news out of the Caribbean is that both teams will be transported to Georgetown, Guyana, on Wednesday (August 3), when appointments have been scheduled for them at the American Embassy there. 

Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt Optimistic On Visa For Florida Matches

The Florida games are being saved in a last-ditch effort with this. The remainder, according to a CWI representative, is beyond their control. 

“The US VISA entry appointments are booked for Wednesday in Guyana. All the relevant applications, etc have been done. Beyond that, we have no control. But we are optimistic,” Ricky Skerritt, president of CWI, spoke to Cricbuzz on Tuesday (August 2).

The teams aim to be there by Thursday for the two matches, which are on Saturday and Sunday (August 6 and 7) in Miami, Florida. Miami and Georgetown, Guyana, is connected by a five-hour flight. 

The CWI is simultaneously considering other preparations, according to a source from Miami who told this publication that the plans to hold the last two games in Florida are still in place. The report stated that Trinidad will most likely be the location, but the CWI president declined to divulge his board’s second choice. 

“Let’s keep things at that for now,” Skerritt said when asked about other possibilities. Commercial stakeholders of the series have also been told the same – that there is no need to discuss alternatives at this stage as visas are expected to be approved.  

“The CWI will not fly the Indian team to Guyana unless it is not confident of getting the clearance,” the source, fully conversant with the developments, said. Team India is leading the series by 2-1 after winning the third T20I against West Indies at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, by 7 wickets. 

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