INZAMAM AGAINST IPL REPLACING T20 WORLD CUP
FORMER Pakistan captain Inzamamul-Haq has said that questions will be raised if Indian Premier League (IPL) is slotted in the window allotted to ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, which in all likelihood will be cancelled in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
The ICC is yet to decide the fate of the T20 World Cup in Australia which is scheduled to take place from October 18 to November 15.
“There are rumors that the World Cup was clashing with the Indian Premier League and the Australia-India series, therefore, it (T20 World Cup) won’t take place,” Inzamam said in his
YouTube channel last Sunday (5). “The Indian board is strong and has control in the International Cricket Council (ICC). If Australia says that we cannot hold the World Cup because of the Covid-19 pandemic, then their stance will be easily accepted, but if any such kind of event (IPL) happens during the same time, then questions will be raised.”
The 50-year-old former batsman, who has scored 8830 runs in 120 Tests and 11739 runs in 378 ODIs for Pakistan, added: “People will think, if a country could host 12 to 14 teams (16 teams), then why the ICC could not look after the teams? After all, Australia is such an advanced country.
“Another thing is the ICC should not be allowed to give priority to private leagues (IPL) in international cricket. This will lead to young players forcing on private leagues other than international matches.”
The former coach, however, agreed that it would not be easy to host 16 nations during the T20 World Cup.
“Australia can say that it was difficult for it to manage 16 teams for the mega event as it is not easy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the fate of the Asia Cup which the Pakistan Cricket Board will be hosting in a neutral country for security reason is also an issue, as no one knows the fate of the tournament which was originally scheduled to be held in September.
Inzamam said: “I have also heard that objections are also raised on the dates of the Asia Cup as it is clashing with some other event.
“The ICC, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and all cricket boards should sit together and give a strong message that any such kind of impression (giving priority to private leagues instead of international cricket), won’t take place,” he said.