Bermuda’s World Cup qualifying tournament with Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya, Uganda and Jersey has been moved from Jersey in early September to Hong Kong in December, according to report by ITV News in England

However, the Bermuda Cricket Board, which is also putting plans in place to compete in the ICC Americas T20 World Cup Qualifier in October and November,, is still awaiting confirmation from the world governing body about Cricket World Cup Challenge League B, which has been in hiatus since December 2019.

“It was supposed to take place in Jersey but got moved,” Cal Blankendal, the executive director of the BCB, explained yesterday.

“Now, because of the restrictions they are having over there, it is supposed to be moved to Hong Kong, although we haven’t received any official confirmation. There was an article that came out, but I haven’t received any official correspondence from ICC to say that’s the actual location and date.

“We haven’t received anything in writing, but we are also preparing for the ICC Americas T20 World Cup qualifier which is scheduled to take place, hopefully, October, early November. We are looking for those final details as well.”

Blankendal said a domestic season of T20 cricket should be a good preparation for the Bermuda players ahead of the T20 World Cup qualifier.

“A squad was picked back in March, a squad of 30 players who have been called to resume training,” Blankendal said.

“Herbie Bascome, the national team coach, is putting together that training schedule and plan, and they should be active inside the next ten days, as a unit preparing for two different competitions. The T20 will be first and that falls right in line with what we’re doing now.

By chance we will go out of our T20 competition by the middle of September and go into another T20 by the end of October.”

Covid travel restrictions forced Jersey to be changed as the host venue for the tournament involving Bermuda, Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya and Uganda. Jersey, too, are awaiting confirmation of the new dates.

“We’re waiting for further updates from them so hopefully we can get that tournament under way in Hong Kong during the first two weeks in December,” said Neil Macrae, Jersey Cricket’s head coach.

Blankendal noted it is a challenge bringing international teams together during strict travel guidelines. “The World Challenge League is more up in the air because it is not in our region,” he said.

“With teams from all over the world and with different Covid-19 regulations, trying to get them together in one location is more challenging than getting the US, Canada, Bermuda and Cayman to play, as we’re all in the same geographical location.”

Bermuda had some disappointing results in the first stage of CWC Challenge League B in Muscat, Oman, losing four of the five 50-overs matches and having a no result in the other to prop up the table on one point.

Uganda, the scheduled venue for the third round of matches in February 2022, are the leaders with ten points after a perfect series in Oman.

Only one country will advance to the next stage of qualifying at the end of the 15-match series.