The women's cricket World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe has been abandoned after the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant in South Africa that prompted travel curbs, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Reuters reports the ICC took the decision after the game between the West Indies and Sri Lanka was called off after a member of the Sri Lankan support staff tested positive for Covid-19.

“We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event,” Chris Tetley, the ICC Head of Events, said in a statement. “But with travel restrictions from a number of African countries being imposed at such short notice, there was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home.”

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