The Euro T20 Slam – the first-ever European inter-city franchise tournament has been yet again rescheduled for a second time due to the ongoing global Coronavirus pandemic.
The franchise cricket tournament, involving six city-based franchises in Ireland, Scotland, and Netherlands, was originally scheduled to start in 2019 but was postponed shortly before its start date and now once again it has further delayed to next year due to the COVID-19 crisis.
With the COVID-19 pandemic has been hugely affecting the cricket calendar, the organizers are confident to stage the tournament in 2021 – which will see the international stars like England’s 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, and Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi in action.
Cricket Ireland said in a statement: “The Board of the Euro T20 Slam has re-confirmed its commitment to the competition, but now plans to launch the event in 2021 rather than 2020 given the ongoing uncertainty created by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”
The statement further reads: “Positive talks over recent months between organizers, financial backers and cricket boards (Ireland, Scotland, and Netherlands) had provided a glimmer of hope that the competition may see a launch in 2020 – with each of the three cricket boards identifying a fixture window to hold the event.
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However, continued uncertainty around the impacts of COVID-19 on international travel, quarantine requirements, and the status of fan attendance at matches has scuppered plans for the current season.”
Meanwhile, CI CEO Warren Deutrom said: “The Slam Board reluctantly reached the conclusion that the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and compromises being made to the original objectives did not make it a viable start in 2020.”
He signed off by saying, “Even if it takes until the third time of asking, we still very much believe in the viability, purpose and interest in a European T20 franchise concept, and will continue to do our best to bring it to fruition.”
(With AFP Inputs)
