With almost all major sporting events either being canceled or postponed due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the fate of the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 seems to be in jeopardy given the furious rise in the COVID-19 cases across the world.
However, the T20 showpiece event might be six months away, but the clouds of uncertainty over the tournament’s staging getting darker day by day, though, the organizers are still hopeful that the event will go ahead as per the schedule amid the ongoing global crisis.
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The 18 October-15 November ICC tournament was slotted into Australia’s sports calendar between the end of the football season and the beginning of summer cricket to draw maximum attention, but now both the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (AFL) – both were canceled due to the pandemic, may clash with the T20 World Cup 2020 when they resume.
However, Nick Hockley, CEO of the WT20 2020 organizing committee, is expecting that the upcoming showpiece event to be a success even if the tournament has to compete with Australian dominating football and rugby league for the viewers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hockley told Australian Associated Press (AAP): “In the event, they have extended seasons...we still think the World Cup is a really strong proposition that might not come here again for 10 or 20 years.”
He further added, “People love a World Cup. Cricket is Australia’s national sport ... and T20 is the format that appeals to the broadest possible demographic. We’re very encouraged already by the take up in terms of ticket sales.”
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has insisted that there is no change in its plans, and Hockey hoped they would not require any either as the T20 World Cup 2020 is too far but said the organizers are prepared for different scenarios given the current situation.
He signed off by saying, “We're wanting to give ourselves the best possible chance of going ahead as planned, so there's no imminent or quick decision. Hopefully, it's all resolved and we go ahead. In the event that it isn't completely resolved, we are looking at all the different scenarios. Which is only prudent.”
(With AAP Inputs)
