Head coach Walsh said the transition period in Oman was “mentally taxing” after the World Cup qualifier was called off
“We are pleased to confirm that the West Indies Women’s squad will soon be making their way back home,” CWI CEO Johnny Grave said.
“We want to thank them for their patience and understanding as we worked with our counterparts at the ICC and Oman Cricket to facilitate their return at the earliest opportunity. We want to express our appreciation to the ICC, Oman Cricket and our operations team, who have worked tirelessly to ensure everyone was comfortable and remained safe.”
“As a management group, we tried to ensure that the players remained in a positive frame of mind,” Walsh said in a statement. “Our strength and conditioning coach created a fitness challenge for all of us to participate in for the duration of the quarantine period, as it was something to take our minds off what was happening. I must say thanks to our Team Manager, the ICC and Oman Cricket, for all their logistical work, in ensuring we’re on our way home as quickly as possible.”
The squad was flown to Oman via an ICC private charter, with a short stopover in Namibia, along with eight other international squads. Oman was used as a staging area for the West Indies contingent while they awaited an available route home.
With the ODI World Cup set to take place next March and April, the qualifier cannot be held at a later date, and the ICC said that the three remaining spots will be decided according to the rankings. Following the termination of the qualifying event, Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan secured their places. Hosts New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa and India have already qualified for the marquee event.