With the future becoming uncertain because of the outbreak of coronavirus, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer Kevin Roberts has rated the chances of India touring Australia later this year. He said there is a nine out of ten chance of India touring to play the four-match Test series Down Under.
Cricket Australia (CA) is currently under financial stress, and the majority of CA staff had to face pay cuts. It is to be noticed the Australian board would be having a loss of AUD 300 million if the Men in Blue don’t tour Australia. So, Roberts is positive about India’s tour, which would be significant to boost their financial condition.
“I guess there’s no such thing as certainty in today’s world so I can’t say 10 (out of 10), but I’m going to say nine out of 10,” Roberts told News Corp.
“With the variable being, who would know whether we can have crowds … I’d be really surprised if we can’t get the Indian tour away.
“But I wouldn’t, hand on heart suggest we’ll have full crowds from the start. We’ll just have to see how that goes,” the under-pressure chief executive said.
Australia can tour England: Kevin Roberts
Kevin Roberts is willing to send the team to tour England, but he didn’t want to compromise the health of the players. He would wait and watch on how England execute Pakistan and West Indies tour in terms of health safety measures. And only after which, he would take any decision.
“I think there’s some chance we could send a team over,” Roberts said.
“Obviously we won’t jeopardise the safety of the players, but the best test of that is that the West Indian and Pakistan tours of England before we’re due to tour. We hope they go off without a hitch,” Roberts said.
The T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia is under dilemma because of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The mega event is likely to postpone for next year.