In brief: Jersey-born Glamorgan batter Asa Tribe has been blocked from joining the England Lions squad in the West Indies after a recent trip to Kenya triggered a 21-day non-entry rule in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The restriction stems from an Ebola outbreak in Kenya and seven other African countries. Tribe had been representing Jersey in Nairobi just days before he was due to link up with the Lions.
From Nairobi to Nowhere: Tribe’s Lions Debut Derailed
It was supposed to be a proud moment for Jersey cricket. Asa Tribe, the Glamorgan batter who came through the island’s cricketing ranks, had earned a call-up to the England Lions squad for a series of T20 and one-day matches against West Indies A. Instead, the BBC reports, he finds himself back in the UK, watching from afar as his teammates take the field in the Caribbean.
The reason is as dramatic as it is frustrating. Tribe had been playing for Jersey in Nairobi in late October, featuring in three one-day matches against Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, and the hosts Kenya. It was exactly the kind of dual commitment that illustrates how seriously he takes his island roots, even as he pursues the highest levels of the English game. But when he attempted to travel onward to Saint Kitts and Nevis, which is hosting all the Lions fixtures, he was turned away.
The Ebola Factor
Saint Kitts and Nevis currently has a 21-day non-entry rule in place for non-nationals who have recently been in Kenya, following an Ebola outbreak there and in seven other African countries. Tribe’s timing, entirely innocent and driven by his commitment to Jersey, put him squarely in the path of that restriction.
A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the situation to BBC Sport Wales: “Saint Kitts and Nevis currently have a 21-day non-entry rule in place for non-nationals who have been in Kenya due to the Ebola in Kenya and seven other countries in Africa. Asa is back in the UK, and we are in touch with the relevant authorities.”
It is a stark reminder that international sport does not exist in a bubble, and that public health emergencies on one continent can have very immediate consequences for athletes thousands of miles away. For Tribe, the timing could hardly have been worse.
Lions Make a Strong Start Without Him
Meanwhile, the England Lions got their tour off to a confident start. The BBC reports that they won the first T20 clash by eight wickets on Sunday, bowling West Indies A out for just 98. Naavya Sharma took four wickets and Scott Currie three. Captain Thomas Rew then hit 50 not out as the tourists reached 101 for 2 in only 10.1 overs.
It is a bittersweet result for Tribe to follow from home. The Lions are performing well, and his absence will only sharpen his desire to be part of the squad when the quarantine window eventually closes.
Source: BBC News
