‘Planning continues’ for cricket’s 2020 T20 World Cup
The International Cricket Council has rejected claims this year's T20 World Cup will be postponed, insisting a number of contingency plans are being considered.
Given the vagaries of the global coronavirus pandemic, the idea of a tournament involving 16 nations going ahead in Australia from October 18 to November15underitscurrent guise seems hopeful at best.
Ireland captain Andrew
Balbirnie earlier this month cast doubt on it going ahead, believing the logistical hurdles would be too sizeable to overcome, but the ICC says it is investigating a number of possibilities.
A statement said: "Reports of a postponement of the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 are inaccurate and planning for the event continues whilst a number of contingency plans are being explored in light of the rapidly changing public health situation caused by the Covid-19 virus."
The tournament is one of a numberofsubjectsthatwillbe discussed when the ICC board meet today, when the process for electing the next chair will alsobediscussed.TheICCsays Shashank Manohar has no intention of seeking re-election for a post he has held since November 2015.
Meanwhile, England's Test series against the West Indies could move a significant step closer,withaboardmeetingin the Caribbean set to consider plans for the tour.
Hopes are high that the three-match series, originally scheduled for June but postponed as part of the wider coronavirus shutdown, can go ahead in July behind closed doors.TheCricketWestIndies board is due to hold a teleconference to discuss the England andWalesCricketBoard's'biosecurity' arrangements and other information regarding safe hosting of the matches with a view to approving the trip.
Ifthegreenlightisgiventhe nextstageofpreparationcould begin, with squad selection, medical screenings, Covid-19 testing and travel arrangements with various islands all on the agenda. Charter flights willberequiredgiventhecomplexities involved in the region andtheECBisreadytofootthat bill.Withamootedstartdateof July 8 for the first Test, CWI is keen to begin moving forward with those matters in order to arrive in the United Kingdom at least four weeks earlier. The Ageas Bowl in Hampshire and Lancashire's Emirates Old Trafford are in line to host the games, although other venues have been discussed in recent weeks.