City is scheduled to host four WBBL matches over the weekend
The WBBL is in a state of flux after the city of Hobart, which is set to host four matches over the weekend, went into a snap three-day lockdown from 6pm on Friday night.
“We are currently working with the Tasmanian Government on options for the upcoming Weber WBBL 07 matches at Blundstone Arena, Hobart this weekend,” the statement said.
“All players, staff and match officials in Tasmania for the Weber WBBL have received Covid-19 vaccinations and received the required negative Covid-19 test results. All are currently participating in training at Blundstone Arena or at team hotels.
“The league will provide further updates in due course.”
Hobart was plunged into a lockdown following a Covid-19 case emerging in the virus-free state following a breach by a traveller from New South Wales, who spent several days in the community before testing positive. Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein announced that if the WBBL continued they would have to do so without crowds.
“Bearing in mind there are national and international matters to consider here in terms of the broadcast, if they do go ahead they would go ahead with no crowd and with the players remaining in a bubble,” Gutwein said.
The border between Tasmania and Western Australia is currently open because both states were Covid-free. However, both have strict zero-Covid policies and the case emerging in Hobart meant the entire Marsh Cup travelling party had to be tested in Perth.
Most of the Tasmania squad had come from Adelaide, where they were playing in a Sheffield Shield match against Queensland last weekend. But four players had come directly from Hobart having not been a part of it. All of them, including the staff, have returned negative tests though and none had been to any of the listed exposure sites in Hobart.
Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo