The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday (October 10) clarified that the fate of upcoming T20 World Cup matches, in case of players testing positive for COVID-19, will be decided by a committee and not by the member boards.

The showpiece event is due to be held in UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14 and the apex body is hoping for smooth conduct of the tournament amid Coronavirus concerns.

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Last month, Team India had pulled out of the Manchester Test at the eleventh hour due to COVID fears in their camp, and the outcome of the series is yet to be decided.

ICC's acting chief executive Geoff Allardice said any such last-minute decisions will be taken by a bio-safety advisory group.

"We have a committee set up to look at any cases that arise during the event and they will look at identifying close contacts and taking decisions around future events," Allardice told a virtual news conference

"Any decisions around matches will be taken by that committee and it's not going to be something that's going to be dealt with by the members as it may do in bilateral cricket."

The 16 participating teams will be confined to their hotel rooms during the month-long tournament.

Allardice also spoke on Afghanistan's participation in the T20 World Cup, taking into account the recent takeover of Taliban.

"When the change of regime took place in Afghanistan in August, we have been in regular touch with the Afghanistan Cricket Board," said Allardice.

"Our primary function is to support the development of cricket in that country through the member board. We have said all along that we are waiting to see how things unfold under the different regime in that country.

"The ICC board will consider it when they next meet which is looking like the end of the T20 World Cup."

Amid the reports that Taliban might ban women’s cricket in the country, Australian Test skipper Tim Paine recently said teams could pull out of the World Cup or boycott games against Afghanistan.

However, Allardice made it clear that Afghanistan is participating in the marquee event.

"They are full member of the ICC and the team is preparing for the event at the moment and will be playing in Group B," he said.

"As far as their participation in the event, it's proceeding as normal."

(With AFP inputs)