BCCI hasn’t given up yet hopes of hosting the upcoming T20I World Cup and taking the Cup to the UAE is the contingency plan, and not a swap with Australia, who will host the 2022 T20 World Cup.
The T20 World Cup scheduled in India between October 18-November 15 could move to the United Arab Emirates if the Covid-19 situation in the country does not improve.
Dhiraj Malhotra: Contingency Plan Is That T20I World Cup Would Go To UAE With The Hosting Rights Staying With BCCI
Before the latest surge in coronavirus infections in the country, BCCI had shortlisted Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Dharamsala, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow as the nine host venues. But the severity of the second wave of infections—3,645 deaths were reported in the 24 hours until Thursday evening—has caused huge concern with India’s health infrastructure coming under a lot of strain.
“It’s too early to say what will happen. But the contingency plan is that it would go to UAE with the hosting rights staying with BCCI,” Dhiraj Malhotra, GM, BCCI, and the tournament director of the World Cup said.
The Indian board has no option but to wait for the health situation to improve and travel bans imposed by several countries to be lifted before they can hope to stage the world event. It is understood that does happen, keeping the World Cup in India without crowds would be the preferred option before they decide on the contingency plan.
T20I World Cup To Be A 16 Team Affair
The T20 World Cup this year will be a 16-team affair with teams to announce their squads one month before the competition. There are four grounds in the UAE where international matches can be hosted, and should the need arise that option will be activated. The eight-team IPL was successfully staged in the UAE last year.
ICC Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup 2021 will be the 8th T20I World Cup and will take place between October 2021 and November 2021. There will be two continuous T20 world cup in 2021 and 2022(Australia). The ICC announced in April 2018 that T20 World Cup 2021 will replace to Champions Trophy 2021.
The T20I World Cup was initially awarded to Australia, but in a change in schedule, the ICC later awarded it to India as Australia will now host the 2022 edition. India is also scheduled to host the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
The T20 World Cup which was scheduled to be held in Australia from October 18 2020 was postponed in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making way for the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in the United Arab Emirates. India, on the other hand, was originally scheduled to host the competition in 2021.