ICC World T20 and IPL 2021 venue likely to be UAE, decision mostly on June 1

The surge in the coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of IPL 2021 in India during the half-way stage. 29 matches were complete before some players became positive for the coronavirus. With the IPL postponed, there are serious doubts on whether India can host the ICC World T20 scheduled in October-November 2021. India is still seeing about 275,000 cases per day. Although the World Cup is five months away, there are some contingency plans in place.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the UAE is likely to be the contingency venue. The report stated that the BCCI will convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) on May 29 where all the state units will attend. The SGM will take a collective decision on May 29. After that, the BCCI will convey the message to the ICC in their meeting on June 1. The decision will be made looking at the pandemic situation in India.

In April’s apex council meeting of the BCCI, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Dharamsala and Lucknow were shortlisted to host the T20 World Cup. Currently, the coronavirus situation in all the major cities remains critical.

Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, has admitted that there is no way the IPL can be finished in India. The window that they are looking for in the UAE is from the period of September to October. But that would involve bio-bubble fatigue. Teams like England and Australia have said that they are not available due to international commitments.

No IPL in India, ICC World T20 likely in UAE

Michael Hussey, the former Australia batsman who tested positive for the coronavirus, has admitted that playing the ICC World T20 in India will be difficult. In an interview with Fox Sports, Hussey said, “We’re talking about eight teams in the IPL. I think there are probably a similar number, maybe more teams coming in from overseas for the World T20. If they are playing in different cities, that is when the risk goes up,” Hussey said.

A BCCI source admitted that the situation in India regarding the coronavirus is still grim. “Realistically, things haven’t improved. We know that. But there is time for the World Cup. We are trying our best to complete IPL but don’t know about the World Cup yet. But IPL could go to the UAE,” the official told Hindustan Times.

The chances of hosting the IPL 2021 in the UK has also faded as the window is too short. Warm-up matches will be played before the ICC World T20. A couple of weeks back, MCC, Surrey and Warwickshire reportedly wrote to ECB to host the league at Lord’s, The Oval and Edgbaston. However, Hampshire’s chairman said according to the latest arrangement in the UK, that would be illegal.