Twenty20 Cup likely to be delayed

An impatient Indian board says it can’t wait any longer to plan this year’s Indian Premier League as the axe hovers over the seemingly doomed men’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

While sources close to the situation stressed yesterday that no decision had yet been formally made with regard to the tournament, it is all but certain that the T20 World Cup – scheduled to be held in Australia in October and November – will be postponed.

The International Cricket Council deferred its decision over the tournament to this month, meaning an announcement could be made in the coming days.

However, the event has been imperilled ever since the escalation of Covid-19 in midMarch. Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings said last month ‘‘it’s unrealistic, or it’s going to be very, very difficult’’ for the event to proceed.

Frustrated at being hamstrung by the ICC’s indecision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said the BCCI had to start planning for its upcoming season, which is widely expected to include an IPL tournament in October. However, with India having surpassed Russia to now have the third most coronavirus cases in the world, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates are looming as more likely candidates to host the event.

‘‘The year started on a horrible note and there’s been no relief on any front. It is time for the BCCI to start planning for the year ahead,’’ BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told The Times of India.

■ Veteran batsman Ross Taylor and four other Black Caps could be the first current New Zealand internationals back into cricket next month, in the Caribbean Premier League.

Taylor (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Colin Munro and Tim Seifert (Trinbago Knight Riders), Ish Sodhi (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots) and Glenn Phillips (Jamaica Tallawahs) were confirmed in the six squads after the player draft yesterday.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the CPL is scheduled to run from August 18 until September 10 in Trinidad and Tobago.

A New Zealand Cricket spokesman said the five players would be issued the required No Objection Certificates to clear them to play in an overseas tournament.