The coronavirus pandemic followed by worldwide lockdown has put brakes on all international as well as domestic cricketing events. The possibility of the much-awaited India Premier League (IPL) 2020 also looks doubtful if the current situation doesn’t change soon. Apart from IPL, the cricket fans are also eagerly waiting for T20 World Cup 2020.
However, there seem to be some hosting issues regarding both IPL and T20 World Cup. This has led to a drift in the relationship between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Despite having BCCI chairman Shashank Manohar as chairman of the international apex body, the Indian board is not happy with the delay in the adjournment of the T20 World Cup.
“Why is the outgoing ICC chairman (Manohar) creating confusion? If the host cricket board doesn’t want to conduct the T20 World Cup, why will it take a month to announce the decision? Is he trying to hold BCCI to ransom?” a senior BCCI official said as quoted by The New Indian Express.
BCCI is looking to organise IPL in the September-October window, and that’s the reason it is hoping for an early decision on the status of the T20 World Cup so that they can plan the commencement of the lucrative league accordingly.
“It’s just not about the BCCI or the IPL. If ICC announces the postponement during this month, even those member nations whose players are not a part of IPL can plan their bilateral series in that window. -making will hurt everybody,” the official added.
Earlier, Earl Eddings, who is a member of the ICC board and currently the Cricket Australia (CA) chairman, gave hints that the global showpiece event may face hurdles.
Eddings had spoken to local media and said that it would be ‘unrealistic’ to hold the T20I World Cup this year due to the ongoing global pandemic. He had stated that because of the travel restrictions, the happening of the global tournament would be difficult.
“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,” Eddings had said as quoted by HT.
