Cricket Australia on being asked about their preference if the 2020 edition of the T20 World-cup doesn’t go ahead, has said that it would want to hold the 2021 edition rather than getting hosting rights in 2022. The 2021 edition of the tournament is currently for India to host. According to a report in The Australian, a letter from Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings was sent to ICC’s Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee on Thursday calling for the tournament to be shifted because of issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In doing so, Eddings and CA have reiterated that they will not be in a position to host the 2020 edition of the tournament scheduled from October 18 to November 15. In fact, Eddings’ Eddings’ letter specifically requests that Australia should be allowed to host the 2021 edition and not 2022, given the multiple commercials at stake.
The email, sent by Eddings (TOI is in possession of that letter), has been marked to members of the Financial & Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) only. The CA chairman is a member of the body while the BCCI is not part of this committee. The F&CA is headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani, who was elevated to the chair after former BCCI president Shashank Manohar took control of the governing body. TOI understands that CA sent that letter more than a week ago.
The ICC Board met via teleconference on Thursday with all agenda items deferred until June 10 following a discussion, led by Chairman Shashank Manohar, around the issue of confidentiality. At the board meeting, ICC was expected to finally decide on the fate of the 2020 T20 World-cup slated to be held from October 18 to November 15.
However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the possibility of hosting the tournament currently looks bleak.
Earlier, the IANS had reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not in the mood to exchange the hosting rights with Cricket Australia.
