T20 World Cup postponed
Dubai, July 20
This year’s T20 World Cup became a high-profile casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic today after the sport’s governing International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the tournament scheduled in October-November.
The ICC has been exploring contingency plans since hosts Cricket Australia acknowledged the logistical challenges involved in staging a 16-team tournament amid travel and other restrictions this year.
Consequently, there will be back-to-back men’s T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 before the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023.
In the original calendar, India was scheduled to host the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. The ICC did not specify the hosting order and a spokesman told Reuters the governing body was yet to finalise, between India and Australia, who will host which edition.
The powerful Indian cricket board (BCCI) is keen to stage the 2021 edition to avoid hosting back-to-back ICC events in 2022 and 2023.
The BCCI has resented a late call on the fate of this year’s World Cup, saying the uncertainty created a scheduling headache for the cricket boards already bruised by the pandemic’s financial impact. The BCCI has also been open about its plans to stage its delayed Indian Premier League in the now-vacant October-November slot.
The ICC also moved the 2023 ODI World Cup in India to an October-November window from its original February-March slot. “Moving the World Cup to a later window … gives us a better chance of maintaining the integrity of the qualification process,” ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said. — Reuters
Way cleared for IPL
The World Cup’s postponement has paved the way for the BCCI to organise the Indian Premier League during the October-November window.
BIG CHANGES
Back-to-back T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022
ICC yet to finalise who — between India andAustralia — will host which edition
2023 ODI World Cup in India moved from February-March to October-November window
