The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major blow to the majority of the sporting events across the globe. Various sporting events are either being canceled or postponed because of the novel coronavirus scare. The global pandemic has also jeopardized the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled in Australia from October 18 to November 15.
Recently, former New Zealand skipper Brandon McCullum suggested for this year’s T20 World Cup to be postponed to 2021, saying that the currently suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) taking the mega-events slot. McCullum said, “I think the IPL will try and target that October window and the T20 World Cup will get pushed back.”
For the unversed, Brandon McCullum is the coach of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. He is also a former player of the same franchise.
There is also the Women’s ODI World Cup scheduled in New Zealand in February 2021. On which McCullum said, “That may mean the Women’s World Cup gets pushed back but hopefully we get to see all three tournaments operate.”
McCullum said that he neither sees the T20 World Cup happening without the stadium fans nor does he believe that teams from 16 nations will fly to Australia in the wake of the pandemic that has infected more than 20 lakh people worldwide. If IPL does not happen, neither players nor support staff will be paid.
Former New Zealand seamer Simon Doull, who joined on the podcast with McCullum and Ian Smith, also believes that fans will be important in getting revenue from the T20 World Cup.
The ICC’s Chief Executives Committee (CEC) is expected to meet on Thursday for a conference call to discuss the financial consequences of COVID-19 and also contingency planning for all ICC global events like the T20 World Cup.