Pat Cummins Thinks It's Too Early To Talk About Shifting The T20 World Cup To The UAE

Kolkata Knight Riders star pacer Pat Cummins was one of the several Australian players to take part in IPL 2021 and not quit midway despite the risks associated with COVID-19 in India. Pat Cummins had also donated a substantial amount to India’s fight against the raging COVID-19’s second wave that has proved to be infectious. Nevertheless, with the IPL 2021 suspended due to the virus breaching the bio-bubble, Cummins thinks it might be too early to say whether the nation could not host the T20 World Cup.

BCCI suspended IPL 2021 on Tuesday due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases emerging across four franchises. Pat Cummins’ Kolkata Knight Riders were one of the victims, as Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive for it on Sunday. Chennai Super Kings also bore the effects of it, while SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals reported infections as well on Tuesday. Such incidents have made UAE a firm contender to host the T20 World Cup later this year.

Pat Cummins underlined that with the T20 World Cup six months away, it’s too early to say and that cricket authorities need to work with the Indian government to see what’s best for the people. The 27-year old feels that if it’s unsafe and causes resources to drain, India should not stage the event.

“It’s probably way too early to say. It’s six months away. The priorities should for the cricket authorities to work with the Indian government to see what’s best for the Indian people. If it’s going to be a drain on resources or it’s not going to be safe, then I don’t think it’s right to play over here. That’s the first question which needs to be answered,” Cummins said as quoted by ANI.

The first thing I wanted to do was make sure playing in the IPL was the right call: Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins revealed the contrasting opinions that went on in India and Australia, with the Indian people thinking that cricket is the best entertainment for 3-4 hours each night. But the New South Wales had doubts whether it was right to continue and heard people back home that it was wrong.

“The first thing I wanted to do was make sure playing in the IPL was the right call. Speaking to people back home, some had the view that it didn’t see right cricket was going on over here in amongst all the COVID cases. But the response I was getting from people in India was the opposite. They all said that with so many people in lockdown they really appreciate the fact that for three or four hours each night they can watch the IPL. Everyone thought it was positive the IPL was still going on,” he added.

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