Courtesy- Twitter
The Australian and KKR pacer Pat Cummins said that if the tournament were moved out of India due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis doesn’t mind playing the T20 World Cup later this year in the UAE. Cummins added that “the BCCI and the ICC should work with the Indian government to analyse what’s best for the people of the country before taking a call.”
IPL 2021 was suspended inconclusively on May 4 after the COVID-19 cases rose up out of the bio-bubble of the franchises in Ahmedabad and Delhi. Speculation is rife the COVID-19 second wave, which has pushed Indian clinical assets to the verge, may compel the T20 World Cup out of India. The hosting rights for T20 World Cup is with the BCCI, scheduled to be played in India in October and November, yet the competition may be moved to the UAE, which has been a back-up plan. The ICC is probably not going to a call soon about this matter. The BCCI decided to host IPL 2021 across 6 cities but yet as the second influx of COVID-19 pandemic began rising in India, concerns developed before the competition was suspended.
“If it’s going to be a drain on resources or it’s not going to be safe, then I don’t think it’s right to play it over here. That’s the first question which needs to be answered,” Cummins told The Age newspaper.
He also said “It’s probably too early to say. It’s six months away. The priority should be for cricket authorities to work with the Indian government to see what’s best for the Indian people.”
Notably, Cummins along with quite a few other Australians who were essential part for the IPL, are in Maldives, anticipating the lifting of the travel ban imposed by the Australian government on returning citizens from India.