Aus T20Is will need rescheduling if WC is scrapped: BCCI

New Delhi

With an eye on the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is optimistic that a rescheduling of the T20 series won’t be an issue. Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said on Tuesday that if the T20 WC is indeed scrapped, the board will look to use that window to host IPL.

He added the three-match series against Australia could be planned in a way that it comes either prior to the Tests or after the ODIs. “If the T20 WC is scrapped, as it increasingly looks as if it will, then travelling to Australia in October would not be practical. We can visit it post IPL, if the league happens during that period.

“If IPL was to not take place, it would impact the Future Tour Programme (FTP) as far as India is concerned. BCCI will have to ensure that the domestic players earn money this year. This is only the scenario pertaining to India. The other boards also have their issues. The indecision at the International Cricket Council (ICC) is costing the ICC members at the moment,” he pointed.

Interestingly, while ICC has time and again spoken about planning to hold the T20 WC as per schedule (October and November), CA chairman Eddings pointed that the global tournament looks highly unlikely to take place in the current scenario.

“While it hasn’t been formally called off this year, or postponed, trying to get 16 countries into Australia in the current world, where most nations are still going through COVID spiking, I think is unrealistic. It is going to be very, very difficult,” said Eddings in a virtual press conference. “ICC is having meetings as we speak. It is a bit of a movable feast at the moment.”

As for BCCI, it has made it clear that it will look to host IPL if the T20 WC gets postponed. In fact, the series it has confirmed is the four-match Test series against Australia and the ODIs that follow.

Considering the quarantine rules in place at present due to the coronavirus, it would only make sense to have India fly into Australia once, play the Tests, ODIs and T20Is and then return rather than making multiple visits. In fact, BCCI has also said that all decisions with regards to movement of players will be taken in consultation with the government.