COVID-19 has created a havoc which has affected International Cricket to a great extent. CA Chief Nick Hockley said that there was no way Australia could host a 16 nation event with the pandemic still prevailing.
Australian organizers said that postponing the Men’s T20 World Cup was “absolutely inevitable” after the coronavirus pandemic forced the tournament to be delayed by a year. After the months of uncertainty Cricket Australia has welcomed the International Cricket Council’s decision saying that it provided clarity ahead of an upcoming home season which includes a much awaited Test series against India. Delaying the T20 World Cup also frees up a October November slot in this year’s cricketing calendar which could be very well used to stage the IPL in the UAE.
However it is still not clear that the T20 World Cup will now be held in Australia or India who were originally slated to hold the following edition in 2021 — which has been shifted to 2022. COVID-19 has created a serious havoc which makes it impossible for Cricket Australia to host a 16 nation event with the pandemic still prevailing.
“I think the decision to postpone was absolutely inevitable,” he told reporters. “It allows us to focus with real clarity on the summer ahead.” Under the new arrangements announced on Monday either Australia or India will host the next T20 World Cup in October-November 2021 then the other nation will host it in 2022. The 50-over World Cup in India, originally due to be played in March-April 2023, will be pushed back to October-November of that year, with the final on November 26.
Hockley said that CA did not have a preference to host the T20 tournament in 2021 or 2022. “We just want to see two great events go ahead, whether it’s ’21 or ’22 in Australia I’m sure we’ll put on a fantastic event,” he said.
