Xtra Time Web Desk: The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) may get an opportunity to host the T20 World Cup next year if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fails to organise the event in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the UAE have been placed on standby in case India is unable to stage the showpiece event due to the pandemic. With its world class venues and facilities, UAE along with Sri Lanka is considered as a backup option should the tournament cannot be staged in India.
It is a standard practice of the International Cricket Council to have venues as standby and in this case UAE and Sri Lanka are the two likely venues if the tournament had to be shifted away from India.
India has been one of the worst affected countries in the world because of the raging pandemic with the country topping the list in Asia and third on the world list behind the USA and Brazil. India currently has 661,274 active cases with the total number of cases shooting up to 2,434,853, with 47,542 deaths.
The UAE has been at the forefront in the battle against the virus and has managed to control the spread.
With the BCCI unable to hold the delayed 13th edition of IPL in India in the current scenario and with the UAE doing admirably well in creating a safe environment with strict health protocols, the country emerged as the frontrunner to host the league.
The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League will be staged across three venues in UAE – Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium – from September 19 to November 10.
The ECB has been hosting major cricket tournaments in UAE since 1996. The country has played hosts to Pakistan’s bilateral series, the Asia Cup, the Abu Dhabi T10 League, the Afghanistan Premier League, apart from numerous ICC events.
If the pandemic shows no signs of abating in India, the UAE could be on the radar as hosts for 2021, including quite possibly next year’s IPL as well.