T20 World Cup
‘ICC T20 World Cup 2021 Could be Shifted to UAE from India’ – Wasim Khan
|| India Correspondent ||
Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan said that next year's ICC World T20 could be shifted to the UAE from India as there are some uncertainties still over whether India would be in a position to host the mega event amid the crunch time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There is still some uncertainty over the World T20 being held in India yes because of the Covid situation there. It could be in UAE," Khan said in an interview to the Cricket Baaz YouTube channel.
He also reminded that India are about to host a home series against England and also the next season of Indian Premier League in the first half of 2021 and Khan said a clear picture can be expected only by April. He also stated that the PCB was waiting for a written confirmation from the ICC and BCCI by January on the issuance of Pakistan players’ visas for the big event in India.
Notably, the ICC has awarded the 2021 World T20 to India and Australia will host the next in 2022 with the 50-over World Cup also slated to take place in India in 2023.
"Yes Mani Sahab (PCB chief Ehsan Mani) has written to them and requested them that given the state of relations between India and Pakistan, it would be best if the ICC and BCCI gives a written assurance about the visas being issued to us," Khan said.
However, he said that bilateral series with India is still not in the radar because of the strange relations between the two countries and it is on ICC to ensure the participation off all nations in any mega event like world cup. However, he is hopeful of a change in the situation between Indian and Pakistan.
"But yes bilateral relations are not ideal and that is why we have also asked for the assurances for next year's World Cup," he concluded.