‘ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is Going to UAE’

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani has said that the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Wrold Cup will be held in the UAE due to the coronavirus situation in India. Last month, BCCI had announced that the remaining season of IPL 2021 will be conducted in UAE due to the monsoon season in India in September-October.

However, BCCI had also sought more time from the ICC before taking a final call on whether India will remain the host country for the T20 World Cup. As of now, the marquee event is to be held in the country in October-November. “The ICC T20 World Cup, which was supposed to be held in India, is now going to the UAE,” Mani was quoted as saying by thenews.com.pk. “India is forced to hold the remaining IPL 2021 matches in UAE also.”

The 2021 T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in India in October - November but considering the volatile Covid-19 situation in the country, the UAE is being mulled as the alternate venue. Though the BCCI has been given one month's extension by ICC to finalise its plans as far as the T20 World Cup's venue is concerned, UAE is being seen as a safer option.

Mani said PCB also were left with no choice but to hold the remainder of Pakistan Super League 2021 in UAE as well. “As such Pakistan had no other choice but to shift the venue of the remaining PSL matches in Abu Dhabi. We had two options, either to cancel the remaining matches or look for a possible venue during the period when we have no other international commitments. This is the best time for us and we have decided to hold it in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

He also added that the safety of players and officials during a time when the world is dealing with a major health crisis should be paramount. “We cannot take any risk. It is the safety and security of the players and officials that should be our top priority,” Mani said.

Both IPL and PSL were suspended midway through the season after coronavirus breached their bio-secure bubbles with several players and match officials beginning to test positive. However, the organisers of both the leagues have managed to find a window and venue to hold the remaining matches in UAE. Cricketing contests all across the globe had to be postponed or cancelled ever since the Covid-19 pandemic began last year. The latest high-profile example is the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, which had to be suspended after 29 games. Now that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to resume the tournament in UAE in the middle of September, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has had to alter its Pakistan Super League (PSL) plans.

PCB chief Ehsan Mani shed light on the upcoming cricketing schedule in the sub-continent, featuring the IPL, PSL as well as the 2021 T20 World Cup. Though there's still time before the T20 World Cup's fate is decided, Mani is of the opinion that the showpiece event will also be held in the UAE. Also, it is because of this venue clash, that the remaining PSL games had to be shifted to Abu Dhabi.

“The ICC T20 World Cup, which was supposed to be held in India, is now going to the UAE. India is forced to hold the remaining IPL 2021 matches in UAE also. As such Pakistan had no other choice but to shift the venue of the remaining PSL matches in Abu Dhabi. We had two options, either to cancel the remaining matches or look for a possible venue during the period when we have no other international commitments. This is the best time for us and we have decided to hold it in Abu Dhabi,” Mani said as quoted by news.com.pk.