The former swashbuckling opening batsman of New Zealand Brendon McCullum proposed an idea to push ICC T20 World Cup of men and women to next year and target October for IPL 2020. The sporting calendar all over the world has taken a major hit with all big events and tournaments postponed or cancelled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games remains the biggest sporting event that had to be postponed to 2021 due to the deadly virus while in India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday confirmed the suspension of the IPL 2020 until further notice.
Target October Window – Brendon McCullum
The IPL 2020, which was scheduled to get underway on March 29, was initially suspended until April 15 after the country went on a 21-day lockdown in a bid to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
“I think the IPL will try and target that October window and the T20 World Cup will get pushed back. That may mean the Women’s World Cup gets pushed back but hopefully, we get to see all three tournaments operate,” McCullum, the coach of IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders, told ‘Sky Cricket Podcast’.
I can’t see world cup behind closed doors:
Brendon McCullum stated he neither sees the T20 World Cup happening without the stadium fans nor does he believe that teams from 16 nations will be able to travel to Australia in the wake of the pandemic, which has infected more than 20 lakh people globally.
“For Australia to move 16 international teams plus all of their support staff and then broadcasters, seems a bridge too far. I can’t see them playing the T20 World Cup behind closed doors either,” McCullum added.
“There may be a window a bit later in the new year of 2021 which could then open up a window for the IPL (in October and November). You’d have to move some overseas players for the IPL but with the broadcasters based in India, it is a lot easier to pull it all together,” he concluded.
Well, it would be interesting to see how things would turn out in the upcoming few months. Most probably, ICC and Cricket Australia would consider postponing the tournament rather than playing the prestigious event behind the doors.
