ICC T20 World Cup 2021: After the abrupt halt of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, there is one most important question among the Indian cricket fans and cricket lovers - will the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 take place in India?

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

See Zee Business Live TV Streaming Below:

Initially, the ICC T20 World Cup was supposed to take place in 2020 in Australia, however, as the pandemic broke out last year, like most the sporting events, the T20 World Cup was also postponed this year and scheduled to take place in India, in the months of October and November. Now, due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and the mid-way cancellation of the IPL has made the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the country uncertain.

According to a DNA report, officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had conducted a Special General Meeting (SGM) on May 29, 2021, to discuss the tournament. Rajiv Shukla, Vice President, BCCI, is very optimistic of hosting the tournament in India as the event in four to five months away. Also, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted BCCI the permission to take a call on the event by June 28, 2021, when they met virtually to discuss on the event.

Nevertheless, the BCCI has internally initiated to shift the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 out of India. Now, if this global cricketing event is shifted out of India, UAE is the most preferred option. In fact, last year, the IPL 2020 was also conducted in UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic scenario in the country. Apart from UAE, the backup options are Oman with Muscat being the fourth venue apart from the three venues to be used during the World Cup.

As per a report in Inside Sport, a senior board official said, "Yes, the BCCI, during the ICC board meeting, has formally asked for a four-week window to take a final call but, internally, they have said that they would like to keep the hosting rights and wouldn't mind the tournament being held in UAE and Oman."

He further informed that if IPL is finished by October 10, 2021, then the UAE leg of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 can start off in November. This will give three weeks’ time to the pitches to be spruced up for the global event. Meanwhile, the first week can be held in Oman.

IPL 2021 was postponed earlier last month to ensure the safety of the players and other stakeholders amidst the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. As per an ANI report, the remaining matches of IPL 2021 will be held in UAE between September 19, 2021, and October 15, 2021.