The Coronavirus pandemic has brought all the sports to a screeching halt all over the world. There is even uncertainty over the organization of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in Australia later this year in 2020.
The International Cricket Council will discuss contingency plans for the tournament in Australia, as well as ways of restarting the sport once the pandemic subsides and all boards are set to meet in July.
Therefore, New Zealand cricket Chief David White said that there will be no discussion on rescheduling the T20 World Cup before that meeting in July. “Cricket Australia is working very closely with the government authorities and they are planning for it (T20 World Cup) to go ahead in October and November,” White told reporters.
“There’s contingency planning going on and lots of discussions but no decisions will be made. If decisions are made ... it will be in July,” he added.
Brendon McCullum expects T20 World Cup to be pushed to 2021 with IPL taking its slot
Australia has closed its borders for international travel for six months now to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Fairfax Media said on Thursday that Cricket Australia had discussed postponing the T20 World Cup to February as part of scenario-planning. CA CEO Kevin Roberts said on Tuesday the board was still hopeful of an October start but conceded the international schedule remained up in the air.
Strict lockdown measures in Australia and New Zealand have seen coronavirus infection rates plunge in recent weeks, raising hopes sports might be able to resume some level of competition. “We’ve all got to be open-minded about planning going forward, it’s only April. We’ve got to work together, we’ve got to be flexible ... so we can accommodate these events,” White said.
White also confirmed that New Zealand’s tour to the Netherlands in June has been called off and subsequent tours to Britain and the West Indies later than a month and in July were “highly doubtful”.
The Netherlands on Tuesday extended a ban on major public events, including professional sports and music festivals, until Sept. 1 to prevent a resurgence of coronavirus infections.
(PTI inputs)
