The International Cricket Council (ICC) interim CEO Geoff Allardice, on Monday (June 14), said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should give some certainty in terms of planning to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in India given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The BCCI has sought time till 28 June to decide on whether it can host the T20 World Cup 2021 in India in the October-November window – the same time when the possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic breaks out in India, though they have the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman back up countries for the event.
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The ICC official admitted that the Coronavirus-enforced travel restrictions have added a “layer of complexity” in arranging global events amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allardice told select media outlets: “We need to deliver the event in full in the window that is allowed for the event. From a planning point of view, we need certainty, one of the things that one is finding is an extra layer of complexity in arranging global events in times of restrictions related to COVID-19.”
Citing ICC’s concerns, the interim CEO noted: “There are restrictions related to travel and requirements to enter other countries, the arrangements around hotels, etc.”
He also expects that the final decision on the T20 World Cup 2021 to be taken in the coming days, and it will be held in India only if all the board members agree to travel amid the Coronavirus outbreak.
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Allardice added, “What we are looking towards is certainty about the decisions where the events can be staged, we can start developing the match schedule and getting all the plans in place, the board is going to take a call at the end of the month, and, at this stage, we are in discussions daily with BCCI and where we can try and finalize the match schedule.
There are budgets and everything else. I think not much to add at this stage other than to say that a decision will be made at the end of the month.”
He concluded, “The decisions of ICC are all made by the board and it consists of representatives of all the member countries. In terms of them taking a decision where the matches will be staged, they (ICC BOARD) are always reflecting the views of their member boards and by extension their players. It is also in terms of the way the decisions are made and always there is a country representation in that decision.”
(With PTI Inputs)
