Australia will not participate in the baseball finals in Tokyo 2021

Team Australia Baseball informed World Federation of Baseball and Softball (WBSC)And the Who was withdrawing from the baseball playoffs Which leaves the competition in a struggle between three countries in search of the sixth and final ticket to Tokyo 2020.

Countries Venezuela, eighth in the world ranking; DutchWhich ranks ninth and Dominican Republic, which is the tenth, will be Three teams will compete for tickets June 22-26 in Puebla (Mexico).

According to the statement provided by the organization Baseball Australia, the difficult decision to withdraw from the WBSC Baseball Playoffs, due to significant logistical challenges caused by Covid-19 health protocols.

Australia, ranked sixth in the world rankings, was the highest-ranked team in the recent tournament to determine the sixth card to Tokyo 2020.

“Attending the Olympic Finals in a world mired in the COVID-19 pandemic will always pose significant challenges,” said Australian baseball chief executive Glenn Williams. “We worked through multiple options and scenarios, but the logistical challenges of providing a safe environment for the group were insurmountable.”