T20 world cup unlikely to take place this year: Ehsan Mani

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has said that the T20 World Cup in Australia this year seems “impossible” due to the COVID-19 challenges and the cricketing world can’t risk players’ safety.

In a virtual news briefing, Ehsan Mani said, “Australia and New Zealand have the coronavirus situation under control, however, their governments are very cautious.”

He further said, “Having a bio-bubble environment is feasible for say a bilateral series like Pakistan in England, but it is very difficult when 16 teams are involved,” adding, “I don’t think it is feasible to host the world cup this year.”

“I don’t feel that any ICC event will be taking place this year but I see them happening next year,” Ehsan Mani added. “God forbid, in the middle of a big tournament, if a player gets an infection, the panic from that will be too much so we can’t take that risk,” he added.

The PCB Chairman also said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be making its final decision after consultation with all stakeholders, adding “it may be expected within the next three to four weeks.”

“The ICC has time because the events were supposed to happen in 2020, 2021, and 2023. The gap in the middle can be filled and the T20 world cup will be deferred. That is where the talk is headed towards,” he said.

Referring to the future of the Pakistan Super League 5 (PSL), he said that the PCB will make its final decision if things don’t improve by December.  

Mani’s comments follow Cricket Australia Chairman Earl Eddings’s comments after the latter said that it would be unrealistic and very, very difficult to expect the event to go ahead as planned.