ICC opts for assessing Covid-19 situation further
Md Abu Talha Sarker: The fate of Twenty20 World Cup hangs on until the next month as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has opted for assessing the Covid-19 situation further to make a final decision on the Down Under 20-over cricket extravaganza.
The ICC Board Directors in a meeting via teleconference on Wednesday agreed to continue exploring a number of contingency plans regarding the future of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 until the next month whilst planning for delivery of the events in the scheduled window is ongoing.
The flagship event of the men’s cricket is scheduled to take place in Australia between October 18 and November 15.
At the meeting, the board expressed its desire to continue to assess and evaluate the rapidly changing public health situation caused by COVID-19, working with key stakeholders including governments to explore how the events can be staged to protect the health and safety of everyone involved.
This contingency planning process will evaluate health and safety, cricket, partner and host considerations ensuring any decision taken is in the best interests of the sport, its members and fans.
“The situation surrounding the global pandemic is evolving rapidly and we want to give ourselves the best possible opportunity to make the right decision for the whole sport. The health and well-being of everyone involved is our priority and other considerations fallout from that,” ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said.
“We will only get one chance to make this decision and it needs to be the right one and as such we will continue to consult with our Members, broadcasters, partners, governments and players and to ensure that we make a well informed decision,” Sawhney said in a press release issued after the telemeeting.
On tax exemptions, the board agreed to extend the deadline given to the BCCI to provide a tax solution to December 2020 after holding a long discussion over the ongoing issue of tax exemptions required for ICC events.
But the board received an update on the independent investigation into confidentiality of board matters. The enquiry, led by the ICC ethics officer, will be supported administratively by a sub-group of the board comprising Independent Director Indra Nooyi and Chair of the F&CA Ehsan Mani. All members of the board and ICC management are party to the enquiry.
