The Bermuda cricket team arrived in Antigua three days later than planned after flight cancellations delayed their departure from Miami, Florida, on Saturday.

The journey to the T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier has encountered one challenge after another in the wake of Bermuda leaving the island last Friday for Miami.

American Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights on the weekend, forcing the travelling party had to find hotel accommodation in Fort Lauderdale, where coach Herbie Bascome was able to arrange three days of training. The team finally arrived in Antigua on Tuesday.

They were met in Antigua by six members who had flown directly from Britain — Delray Rawlins, Dominic Sabir, Onias Bascome, and Okera Bascome, Allan Douglas Jr and Jabari Darrell, who was a late replacement for Chris Douglas in the 14-man squad.

“Yes, it was a bit of a letdown not being able to get to Antigua on Saturday, but Herbie, using his contacts, was able to secure a cricket field where the team had three very good training sessions,” manager Russell Richardson told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

“We are glad that we were able to meet up with the players who came from the UK. All of us are here, 14 players, three coaches, a marketing officer and me.

“We had problems in Miami, we were supposed to leave on Saturday morning but the flight was cancelled.”

The squad has been subjected to a PCR test in Antigua and are now in quarantine ahead of their opening match on Monday against the United States, with the first matches of the tournament set for Sunday.

“We will be in quarantine until we get our results from the ICC,” Richardson explained of the team’s bubble, which includes each member in a single room. “We have taken one test and will take another test tomorrow.

“We have arranged a training session at a local field this afternoon, the last time we are allowed off the property until the tournament starts. Everybody has their own individual room, no doubling up.”

The reality of what an international tournament looks like under the Covid-19 pandemic is hitting home for all the teams as the round-robin tournament gets set to start.

Time spent in Florida should have been time spent in Antigua preparing for the start of the tournament, said Arnold Manders, president of the Bermuda Cricket Board.

“After we couldn’t arrange the flights to get out [from Miami], they moved to Fort Lauderdale where they trained,” said Manders, who has been in regular contact with Richardson.

“The players from the UK got there when they were supposed to, but before the rest of them. It’s an expensive tour, and with all the hiccups even more so.

“With Covid-19 we just have to learn to adapt, no sense in stressing out about it. We just have to let it go and roll with the punches. Hopefully, everybody will pass their tests.”

After Monday’s game against the US, one of the pre-tournament favourites, Bermuda will play Bahamas on Wednesday and then Canada and Panama in a double-header on Thursday starting at 9.30am and 1.30pm.

Bermuda’s last two games are against Belize and Argentina on November 13 and 14.

The top two countries will advance to the next stage of qualifying early next year.