The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday discussed various contingency plans for the upcoming tournaments which included ICC T20 World Cup and World Test Championship in the crunch situation of novel Covid-19 pandemic that has brought cricket to a standstill across the globe. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was the representative of India when it was being expected that a former Board president would attend the meeting took place via a video conference. The novel coronavirus has postponed all the sporting events where several bilateral Test series under World Test Championship also have been cancelled.
“The impact of the pandemic on the sport globally was discussed,” an ICC release stated.
However, ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said, “We continue to undertake a comprehensive business continuity and contingency planning exercise which will allow us to adapt to the rapidly evolving world in which we find ourselves.”
However, nothing concrete was decided as the shifting of tournament or change of dates which involves huge logistical exercise that needs huge planning at every stage as well. Moreover, a couple of Board members thought that the T20 World Cup in Australia can go ahead as per the schedule as they have time in hand since it is scheduled to take place in October.
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“The ICC management will continue our contingency planning around ICC events and will also work with Members to explore all options available to us based on a range of scenarios connected to the pandemic.”
“It can’t happen unless an amicable solution is reached. You might have India playing six series and perched at top and England get to play three due to lockdown and tight FTP schedule. You need a solution to distribution of points and matter should be referred to the technical committee,” a representative of a member said to the PTI.
“If things are under control from June, we can then work on a specific contingency plan. Right now, ICC would be working on various plans and would come up with their proposals in course of time,” the senior official further added.
