BIG NEWS! After IPL, ICC T20 World Cup 2021 now SHIFTED to UAE, check what BCCI officials said - all details here

ICC T20 World Cup 2021 Moved to UAE: An important news for the cricket fans across the country as the 2021 edition of the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup will be shifted to UAE. The cricketing fans across the nation will not be able to catch their favourite cricketers in action from their home grounds. The decision of shifting the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup has been taken keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation of the country.

"We will inform the International Cricket Council today that we are shifting T20 World Cup to UAE. Dates will be decided by the ICC," Jay Shah, Secretary, Board of Control of Cricket for India (BCCI) told ANI. 

We will inform the International Cricket Council today that we are shifting T20 World Cup to UAE. Dates will be decided by the ICC: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah to ANI

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2021

"T20 World Cup in India to be shifted to UAE," BCCI President Sourav Ganguly told PTI.

T20 World Cup in India to be shifted to UAE: BCCI President Sourav Ganguly to PTI

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 28, 2021

Earlier, ICC had clarified that BCCI would keep the hosting rights of the tournament even if the tournament is moved out of the country, ANI had reported. Incidentally, the remaining edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will also be completed in UAE. The IPL is set to get underway on September 19, 2021, and the final will be played on October 15, 2021. The IPL will end just before the T20 World Cup.

"As far as T20 World Cup is concerned, today was the deadline when we're supposed to inform the ICC about our decision. So, today there was a conference call amongst BCCI office bearers. We met & looked at the COVID situation," BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla told ANI.

As far as T20 World Cup is concerned, today was the deadline when we're supposed to inform the ICC about our decision. So, today there was a conference call amongst BCCI office bearers. We met & looked at the COVID situation: BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla (1/3) pic.twitter.com/RiRSK6hw5t

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2021

Shukla further added that nobody is really sure regarding the COVID-19 situation in the country over the next two to three months, ANI reported. 

Keeping all these factors in mind, the decision has been taken to move the T20 World Cup to UAE as it is ideally the best venue after India, Shukla said.
The BCCI Vice President also added, "Dates are going to be same. Immediately after IPL it will start. Qualifiers may take place in Oman & rest of the matches will be on three grounds -- Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah."

The ICC T20 World Cup was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 in Australia. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the tournament was postponed till 2021 in India.