The ICC always ensures a gap of at least a month between the IPL and ICC tournament, but due to stringent schedule, it is learnt that the T20 world cup will kick start 2 days after the culmination of the cash-rich Indian premier league.
Notably, BCCI has announced the date of IPL a few days after confirming the venue of IPL to be UAE in the AGM concluded in the last week of April. The remainder of 31 matches of IPL 2021 will begin from 19th September and the final will be played on 15th October. The last season of IPL was also hosted by UAE. However this time, the middle east country will not only host the second half of the IPL but also the T-20 world cup.
While the latest we hear from the trusted sources is that the T20 world cup will start on 17th October and the Final will be played on 14th November. However, the official confirmation is awaited from ICC and BCCI.
It is noteworthy that the BCCI had sought one month's time from the ICC after the Governing Council meeting to take the decision to host the T20 World Cup and the International Cricket Council had asked BCCI to decide it till 28th of June. Now a leading cricket website has stated that T20 world cup will begin from 17th October.
If it is true it is going to be altogether a new challenge for the boards and players from shift to a league mindset to play for the national cause on the same set of grounds. Besides, there could be plenty of fitness issues with the players with no breather between the league and the world cup. Thus it is expected that many boards would be reluctant to give nod to the players for the remainder of IPL in a bid to avoid exhaustion.
Both the tournaments are expected to be a house full affairs as the vaccination drive is in full swing in the UAE. Ove 80 percent of the population is expected to be jabbed twice till mid-September
The last time T20 world cup was organized in the year 2016, It is the longest period ever in the history of T20I cricket with a gap of 5 years between 2 world cups. It was scheduled to held in Australia in 2020 but the COVID pandemic played a spoilsport.
(WD)
