Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought time from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take an appropriate decision as far as hosting the upcoming T20 World Cup is concerned, as this championship has raised doubts due to the pandemic surge in India.
The call was taken by the BCCI during is Special General Meeting that took place virtually on Saturday where it was also decided that the remaining matches of IPL 2021 will take place in the UAE in mid-September.
“The BCCI SGM further authorised the Office Bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021,” the BCCI said in its press release.
While the BCCI has decided to stage the remainder of the IPL in the United Arab Emirates, it has made it clear that the move is influenced by the monsoon season in India in the months of July, August, and September and not because of the Covid situation in the country.
This means that the cash-rich league is back on desert land for the second time, this time to complete the league after it was stalled in Indian soil due to pandemic. The last edition of the championship was held there, and very successfully.
In a statement issued by Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary it is stated that, 'the decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume IPL.
There was nothing mentioned about the ICC T20 World Cup which is to he held in India, however, it was decided in the meeting that they have authorised the office bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
"The SGM approved the decision to hold the remaining matches of IPL between September and October. The dates will be intimated later," according to a senior state association member, who was present in the meeting.
However, the meeting could not come to conclusion of the dates, but is likely to be between September 18 and October 10.
In a short statement, the BCCI said all the members unanimously agreed to resume IPL in the UAE.
The senior state association member said there is also a tax rebate issue which is still an ongoing process.
While IPL's UAE shift was a foregone conclusion, the office bearers intimated the general body about the issue of availability of players.
"The BCCI is pretty clear that even if there is a case of unavailability of English players due to their series against Pakistan, we are not going to plead to any of the boards about releasing their players”.
Domestic players' compensation...
One member from a state association had informally raised the issue but he was told in no uncertain terms that this is not the appropriate forum as SGM needs to be held as per agenda.
"The compensation thing has already been passed at the AGM last January. Yes, they haven't worked out a formula and trust me it's not the easiest thing. Dada (Sourav Ganguly) has got approval for compensation but what's the formula?
"Today, if a state gives contract to 20 players, which is a standard upper limit, there will be five who may just move court and say that this year they were supposed to be selected? These are things that the Board needs to sort out," an official of a heavyweight state said.
T20 World Cup in Maharashtra...
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah will join vice president Rajiv Shukla in Dubai for the ICC Board Meeting on June 1 where there will be discussions on the fate of the T20 World Cup in India in October.
"As they will ask for one month's time, the best option for BCCI is to hold it in Maharashtra, three grounds in Mumbai and one in Pune. However, the issue of Pakistan travelling to Mumbai could be more of a political decision where the security will also need to be factored in,' the official said.
