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The ICC scheduled the T20 World Cup to take place in October in Australia. The T20 World Cup is one of the three major ICC sporting events in the world and all of the top cricketing teams in the world fight it out to be crowned world T20 champions.
COVID-19 has resulted in all cricket matches both domestic and international being suspended by the ICC.
The last cricket match to take place was on March 15 and the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) which was scheduled to start on March 29 was initially postponed is now in limbo as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not in a position to confirm a date as India is scheduled to enter lockdown 4.0 on May 18.
Australia has closed its borders and is not allowing any overseas visitors into the country due to COVID-19 restrictions. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it clear that it is going to take many months before they will open their borders to international travel. The current estimate suggests that Australia will most likely allow international travel from December 2020.
If this be the case, then the T20 World Cup scheduled for October will have to be postponed or cancelled as it would require players and fans from all over the world to enter Australia. So far there has been no official confirmation from the ICC or Cricket Australia on what will happen to the T20 World Cup.
Can IPL Replace T20 World Cup?
If the ICC decides to postpone or cancel the T20 World Cup in Australia, expect the BCCI to jump in and push for the 2020 IPL to replace the T20 World Cup. The T20 World Cup cancellation will free up both Indian and overseas players who can then join forces to play in the IPL.
The IPL is the richest cricketing tournament in the global domestic T20 circuit and is a cash cow for the BCCI. International cricket players will also be eager to play in the IPL as many of them tend to take home their biggest pay cheques from playing IPL cricket.
Should the ICC cancel the T20 World Cup, a few things will have to fall in place for the 2020 IPL to take place. India will have to get out of lockdown mode and the BCCI will have to assure other cricketing boards that it is safe to travel and play in the IPL in India.
