The 2020 T20 World Cup scheduled initially to take place in Australia later this year is all set to get postponed to a later date. The mega event would not be held in the duration of October-November as planned. The official announcement regarding the same would hit the headlines later this week itself.
Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts isn’t very optimistic about their nation hosting the T20 World Cup. The COVID-19 pandemic has put most of the cricketing events and the calendar in jeopardy, arriving unannounced. With Australia’s borders remaining closed until September, there does not seem to be enough time to make all the preparations for the much anticipated T20 World Cup.
“And then of course, there are logisitcs and hospitality to take care of. If the tournament would’ve happened, it’d have been played to empty stands and that doesn’t make sense for Australia because they lose out on massive gate revenue. Right now, what they’ll be getting out of the tournament is the hosting and participation fee. They can earn that money whenever the tournament is held next, possibly some gate revenue too.” a source said.
With the upcoming edition of the marquee event most likely being postponed, three options remain under reckoning now. The first option is for Australia to hold the event in March/April; however, BCCI may not agree due to IPL and endangers England’s tour of India. The broadcaster may not be in line either since Star India holds the rights for ICC events and India’s bilateral rubbers.
The second choice entails BCCI agreeing with CA hosting the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup and be the hosts for 2022. That may not work since the Indian Board is already co-operating with their counterparts for the tour down under later this year.
The final option includes Australia as the hosts for the 2022 affair. That might go well with most of the stakeholders since there are no ICC events planned that year.
