Women's T20 Challenge 2021 Likely To Be Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Wave In India: BCCI Official

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to conduct the Women’s T20 Challenge 2021 owing to health concerns and logistical issues as the country grapples with the second wave of Covid-19.

India is observing world-record numbers of covid cases and deaths every single day – due to which several countries have banned flights to and fro the subcontinent nation. Australia suspended all direct flights from India while the UK has put India on the ‘red list’ and won’t allow non-British citizens to enter England.

While last year 12 overseas players including Deandra Dottin, Sune Luus, Danielle Wyatt, took part in the Women’s T20 Challenge, which was staged in Sharjah. This year, the 3-team competition which was expected to be slated in Delhi on the dates parallel with the IPL 2021 playoffs, is all but confirmed to be scrapped.

“An official decision is yet to be made, but unfortunately looks highly unlikely. The second COVID-19 wave has made things very difficult and with travel restrictions and flight bans, hosting a tournament with overseas players won’t be easy.

“Also, the safety of everyone involved will always be the priority. Might have to skip this edition and get back to hosting it next season,” a BCCI official in the know of developments told ANI.

Cricket Australia considering Charter flights to bring back players from India

Todd Greenberg, the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) Chief Executive, has said that they are in talks with Cricket Australia (CA) about using a chartered flight to bring back all the Australians – players, coaches, commentators, and broadcasters – who are in India for the IPL 2021 after the tournament ends.

But that would also need the government’s approval after all the flights have been suspended from India to Australia until May 15. He also reckons they could have a talk with the franchise owners as well to help the players in getting home safely post the season.

Before the Australian government’s decision, Rajasthan Royals pacer Andrew Tye had already left for home; Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have also pulled out of the IPL but couldn’t fly back yet.

“That’s one of the conversations we’re having with Cricket Australia at the moment about whether or not that’s something that’s available to us.

“We can also work with all the owners of the Premier League franchises who are effectively contracting the players. There’s certainly a conversation to be had about that. They’re not simple things to organise, as you’d imagine,” Todd Greenberg said on 2GB radio as quoted by ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.

“If we can try to find a seamless approach to get them home safely that’s something between us and CA and our players that we’ll work on,” he added.

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