Covid-19 second wave casts a shadow on India as venue for ICC T20 World Cup this year

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<strong>The current surge in Covid-19 second wave has created doubts about India holding the ICC T20 World Cup five months from now. A report in United Arab Emirates’ English newspaper Daily Mail, stated that UAE is likely to host this premium international event, in case the situation in India does not improve.</strong></p>
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With a huge following for the game, especially the 20 overs edition, if the ICC T20 World Cup moves to the West Asian country, it surely would come as a blow for the millions of fans in the country.</p>
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The report also said that an International Cricket Council delegation was presently in India. “An ICC delegation is currently in India, which last week proposed nine venues for the month-long tournament, due to start midway through October and conclude with a final at the world’s biggest cricket ground — the 130,000-capacity stadium in Ahmedabad where England played several matches over winter — on November 13.”</p>
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Earlier Australia was to hold this edition of the T20 World Cup in October-November. This was postponed by ICC because of the prevailing pandemic at that time. This gave an opportunity to the Board of Control for Cricket in India to hold IPL.  Held in UAE in 2020, IPL proved to be a runaway success.</p>
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<strong>Vaccination for players</strong></p>
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With vaccination to be open for all those above 18 from May 1, the cricketers also can avail of this. Meanwhile the BCCI has made it clear that the decision to vaccinate is completely left to the players. As of now vaccination seems to be open only to the Indian players and not the foreign ones here in India playing the ongoing IPL</p>