The legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar believes that India and Australia can exchange the hosting rights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Gavaskar also feels that it will be better to postpone the Asia Cup 2020 which can be organised in December this year, and it can open up the opportunity to organise the IPL 2020.
This is an eventful year for cricket, especially for the T20 cricket. While the Asia Cup 2020 will be played in September under the hosting rights of Pakistan (venue hasn’t been decided yet), Australia will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 from 18th October to 15th November 2020. The upcoming Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format. Moreover, according to the FTP, India will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in October-November 2021.
The coronavirus pandemic has shaken the world, including the cricket world. Many people have been affected in this virus and it has taken away many lives too. To break the chain of this virus, many countries are going through the lockdown process. Moreover, while the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is around six months away to begin, Australia has decided to seal the border till 30th September 2020.
In this situation, Sunil Gavaskar has brought suggestion. Observing the present situation in Australia, Gavaskar has advised exchanging the hosting rights of the back-to-back ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournaments. According to him, India can organise the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 and Australia can organise the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.
Gavaskar told India Today, “At the moment, as we all know, Australia has barred foreigners from entering the country till the 30th of September. The tournament is starting from mid-October or the 3rd week of October, so it’s looking a bit difficult at the moment.
“If it can be done… next year’s T20 World Cup is in India. If it can be done… where India and Australia come to an agreement… In case the curve in India flattens out and India and Australia swap… so the T20 World Cup is in India in October-November this year and Australia in October-November next year, then it can happen.”
IPL can be held just prior to the T20 World Cup: Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar feels that it will be better to host the IPL 2020 just before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 to provide enough practice for the players.
The Indian legendary cricketer added, “If it is going to happen that way, then maybe what can happen is the IPL can be held just prior to the T20 World Cup so that it’s enough practice for the players to have T20 World Cup.”
Though the host of the Asia Cup 2020 hasn’t been confirmed yet, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is favourite to organise this tournament. Gavaskar feels that it will be better to organise the Asia Cup 2020 in December this year as the UAE can be extremely hot in September.
Gavaskar said,”Then the Asia Cup can be held in December in the UAE. That’s a much better time to have the tournament than in September when it can be extremely hot.”