Glamorgan batter Asa Tribe has been excluded from the England Lions tour of the Caribbean after his recent travel to Kenya conflicted with health regulations in St Kitts and Nevis. The 22-year-old, who remains eligible to represent his native Jersey until he earns a senior England cap, had participated in three List A matches for the associate nation in Nairobi during October.
The government of St Kitts and Nevis has implemented a strict 21-day entry ban for non-nationals arriving from Kenya and seven other African countries due to a recent Ebola outbreak. The virus has resulted in nine confirmed cases and two fatalities in the region. Tribe, who concluded his final match in Nairobi on 27 October, encountered the travel restriction while attempting to reach the Caribbean via connecting flights, eventually being stopped during a layover in Paris. He had made it as far as Paris before discovering the problem.
An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson confirmed the situation, stating that the player is currently back in the United Kingdom while officials communicate with relevant authorities. Because all seven scheduled matches for the tour—comprising four T20s and three 50-over fixtures—are being held in St Kitts and conclude on 16 November, it is considered unlikely that Tribe will join the squad without an official waiver. There are four T20s and three 50-over matches to come but with all seven matches taking place in St Kitts – and the last one being held on 16 November – Tribe appears unlikely to make a late appearance on tour without a.
Despite his absence, the England Lions secured an eight-wicket victory over West Indies A on Sunday to open their T20 series. Under the captaincy of 18-year-old Thomas Rew, who hit an unbeaten 50, the team successfully chased a target of 99 runs in just 10.1 overs.
