ICC Men’s T20 World Cup shifted from India to UAE

The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup has been shifted from India to the UAE, according to a BCCI official.

The decision to shift the world cup from India to the UAE has been taken due to the coronavirus pandemic, said the official.

A day earlier, reports had started doing the rounds on social media that India may take the step to shift the tournament to the UAE.

Infections have rocketed again in another wave this year as the country scrambles to curb a more transmissible variant of the virus, hitting plans to ease lockdown measures.

India’s official total for infections has risen to more than 30.18 million, with 394,493 deaths.

The BCCI was also earlier forced to suspend the IPL due to the pandemic.

The Men’s T20I World Cup, which will be held in October, will be held after the remaining part of the IPL is held in the UAE as well.

“Even if we go ahead and host the World Cup in the safest possible manner, some countries might ban travel to India in view of the third wave [of coronavirus infections]. That makes the whole thing untenable,” a board source, who did not want to be identified, told Dawn.com.

“A decision will be taken in the next couple of days and will be conveyed to the International Cricket Council.”

Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI chief and former India captain, said in a text message that a final decision had yet to be made. The ICC did not want to comment.