ICC T20 World Cup – T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: The T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India is being shifted to the UAE owing to the health safety concerns posed by COVID-19, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly told PTI on Monday, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the mega-event in October-November.
“We have officially intimated the ICC that the T20 World Cup can be shifted to the United Arab Emirates. The details are being chalked out,” Ganguly said. “The decision was taken keeping health safety concerns of all stakeholders in mind,” he added.
Asked if October 17 has been finalised as the start date of the tournament, Ganguly said: “We will be able to finalise itinerary details in some days. October 17 start hasn’t yet been finalised.”
Even an ICC spokesperson confirmed that the global body is yet to zero in on a final schedule.
ICC T20 World Cup – T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: Earlier, BCCI had considered hosting the ICC T20 World Cup in India and host IPL 2021 Phase 2 in the UAE. However, the COVID-19 situation and the tussle with ICC over tax exemption for the event forced BCCI to move the event.
“Due to the COVID-19 situation in our country, we may shift the tournament to UAE. We are monitoring the situation closely, the health and safety of players are paramount we will take a final call soon,” Jay Shah told ANI on Saturday.
ICC T20 World Cup: BCCI’s Sec confirms, ‘we are shifting the T20 World Cup to UAE, informing ICC about it’
However, as clarified by the ICC earlier, BCCI would retain the hosting rights of the tournament even if it is moved out of India.
ICC T20 World Cup shifted to UAE: What will be the fate of IPL 2021?
Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL 2021) 14th edition will also be completed in the UAE. The IPL is set to get underway on September 19 and the final is to be played on October 15.
This would also mean that it is just before the T20 World Cup. And that has seen franchises sweating over whether foreign players would be made available to them.
Some of the franchises are planning to have their officials head to the UAE post-July 6 to finalise the logistics, keeping a strict eye on the COVID-19 protocols.
Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt has already confirmed that CWI, the BCCI, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are engaged in talks for a tweaked CPL schedule to accommodate the second phase of the IPL. The CPL, which was originally scheduled to commence on August 28, will now be played in St Kitts and Nevis between August 26 and September 15.
*With Updates from ANI & PTI.
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