T20 World Cup
T20 World Cup (Credits: Twitter)

Cricket Australia is hopeful of conducting the Men’s T20 World Cup as scheduled, later this year, despite an outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic has taken a severe toll on cricket all over the globe with all the major events being either called-off or suspended.

In the last one week or so, almost all the major series or tournaments have been called off. Last week, India’s ODI series against South Africa was called off. England also cancelled their two-match Test series in Sri Lanka before Australia called off their ODI and T20I series against New Zealand.

Bangladesh decided the same with their last leg of Pakistan tour while the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended too till April 15. On Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also called off the Pakistan Super League just before the semifinal as the cases of coronavirus patients spiked in the country.

IPL, IPL 2020, Closed Doors, Government
IPL has been suspended till April 15. Photo by: Deepak Malik /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

While the situation right now is not at all promising, Cricket Australia is hoping for the best at this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup. Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts on Tuesday confirmed that the planning for the T20 World Cup is going ahead as planned and there have been no major changes.

“We are really hoping that all forms of sport can be played again in a few weeks or a few months’ time. None of us are experts in this situation obviously, so our hope is that we are back in very much normal circumstances come October and November when the men’s T20 World Cup is to be played,” cricket.com.au quoted Roberts as saying.

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“And at this stage we are planning on November 15, to have a full house at the MCG to inspire the world through men’s cricket as the women’s cricketers did here just last week,” he added.

The Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin with a pre-qualifying tournament held from October 18-23, while the main 12-team competition is set to kick off with a match between Australia and Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground and then India versus South Africa at Perth Stadium on October 24. Australia recently held the Women’s T20 World Cup which was a huge hit.

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