At a meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the board agreed to bring clarity to their calendar in response to disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Men’s T20 World Cup that was due to be held between October-November 2020, will be delayed until 2021, with the updated events windows as follows:
- Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 – held October-November 2021
- Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 – held October-November 2022
- Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 – held October-November 2023
In effect, the 2020 event will take the window of the 2021 event. 2020 hosts Australia are hoping that the term “postponement” means that they will remain hosts for the 2021 dates. However, India were originally scheduled to host in 2021 and so this will be subject to India moving their duties back to 2022. If an agreement with India is not reached, the Australian event will take place in the 2022 window.
For the moment, the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 maintains its current schedule for February 2021 in New Zealand. The next Women’s T20 World Cup is scheduled for South Africa in 2022.
ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said “The decision to postpone the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was taken after careful consideration of all of the options available to us and gives us the best possible opportunity of delivering two safe and successful T20 World Cups for fans around the world.”
The decision will be disappointing to fans with high expectations the event would go ahead, as Australia was seen to have controlled the pandemic more effectively than many other countries. However, a spike in infections and resulting lockdown in Melbourne in July, may have contributed to the ICC’s decision to postpone.
Organisers have advised that any fans who have already purchased tickets will have the option of a refund or the right to carry them over to 2021 if the event is hosted by Australia.