Glamorgan opening batter Asa Tribe has been barred from joining the England Lions squad in the Caribbean after travelling to Kenya due to entry restrictions concerning the Ebola virus. The twenty-two-year-old was scheduled to link up with the touring second-string England side in Saint Kitts and Nevis following a recent international assignment with his native Jersey.
Tribe played three List A matches for Jersey in Nairobi last month, featuring in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League Group A fixtures against Kenya, Kuwait and Papua New Guinea. His final appearance in the Kenyan capital took place on 27 October before he attempted to travel onwards to the Caribbean via connecting flights.
However, the recent emergence of the Ebola virus in Kenya, which has recorded confirmed cases and fatalities, prompted the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to implement strict border protocols. The host nation maintains a twenty-one-day non-entry regulation for non-nationals who have visited Kenya and several other African countries experiencing outbreaks.
A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the situation, stating that the player was denied entry and has since returned to the United Kingdom while discussions with relevant authorities take place. Tribe reached as far as Paris during his transit before discovering the travel barrier.
The restriction leaves the Glamorgan opener unlikely to feature in the remainder of the tour without a special waiver, as all matches in the series are being hosted in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The itinerary includes a total of four Twenty20 fixtures and three fifty-over matches, concluding on 16 November.
While the touring party commenced their fixtures without him, England Lions secured an eight-wicket victory over West Indies A in the opening Twenty20 encounter on Sunday. Naavya Sharma claimed four wickets and Scott Currie took three as the hosts were dismissed for 98 runs in the first innings.
In response, eighteen-year-old captain Thomas Rew struck an unbeaten fifty to guide the tourists past their target comfortably in just 10.1 overs. Tribe had earned his call-up following a prolific domestic campaign with Glamorgan, during which he accumulated 940 runs across fourteen matches in the County Championship season.
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