The T20 World Cup which is slated to be held in October-November in Australia may be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Australian media reported.
The T20 World Cup which is slated to be held in October-November in Australia may be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Australian media reported.
According to the report in the Sydney Morning Herald, no formal decision had been taken yet but claims of the tournament "is all but certain" postponed are doing the rounds. The reports also state that a decision on the postponement of the tournament is expected in the coming days.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) last month deferred a decision on the T20 World Cup to July.
"We will only get one chance to make this decision and it needs to be the right one and as such we will continue to consult with our Members, broadcasters, partners, governments, and players and to ensure that we make a well-informed decision," ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney had said after its board meeting in June.
As for Cricket Australia chairman Earl Edding, he admitted last month that holding the T20 World Cup in 2020 is "unrealistic".
"While it hasn't been formally called off this year, or postponed, trying to get 16 countries into Australia in the current world, where most countries are still going through COVID spiking, I think it's unrealistic, or it's going to be very, very difficult," he had told reporters.
When it comes to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), they are reportedly planning to hold this year's edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the October window if the T20 World Cup is postponed.
The IPL was scheduled to commence from March 29 but was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The governing council chairman Brijesh Patel had said that they are just waiting on the decision and are prepared to hold the IPL in September and October.
"Yes we are ready to go with IPL in September-October window, everything is planned and ready. Will have to follow the guidelines and SOPs, for medical and other things," Patel was quoted as saying by ANI in June.
"We are waiting for the announcement from ICC on T20 World Cup. If it is not happening, we can hold IPL," he had said. Countries like UAE, Sri Lanka, and now New Zealand have also shown interest in hosting the 2020 edition.
Hearing the news of the postponement of the T20 World Cup and the IPL, fans take to social media to express their feelings.
1. '#T20WorldCup likely to be get postponed'
2. '#T20WorldCup Is cancelled...but #IPL2020 Is going to happen'
3. 'BCCI and ICC on conducting #T20WorldCup & IPL, meanwhile Coronavirus'
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