Cricket Australia looking to allow fans in stadium for T20 World Cup

If the T20 World Cup goes ahead as per schedule, cricket Australia will not hold it behind closed doors. According to Cricket Australia’s interim CEO Nick Hockley, if 15 teams can be allowed to travel to Australia, the board will not stop fans from entering the stadiums to enjoy the live-action.

While the board is exploring different options to conduct the tournament later this year, one of the suggestions is to host the matches in empty stands.

For now, the major concern for the board is to figure out how to host 15 teams for the tournament.

“The reality is, and we’ve got much more understanding about this in recent weeks, is crowds are most likely to come back before international travel. Our biggest challenge is getting 15 teams into the country,” Hockley told cricket.com.au.

“If I compare it with the prospect of a bilateral tour, you’re talking about bringing one team in and then playing individual matches. But the prospect of bringing 15 teams in and having six or seven teams in one city at the same time, it’s a much more complex exercise,” he added.

Hockley recently who recently replaced Kevin Roberts as the CEO said that the offer came as a surprise to him.

“I’ve had very mixed emotions. I was very shocked to be asked. I didn’t see it coming at all, so I probably haven’t had time yet to process it. I feel very sad for Kev (Roberts). On the other hand, I feel this is a massive privilege to be asked, it’s a massive responsibility and a massive opportunity even if it’s only for the next few months,” he said.

Hockey did not divulge much when asked if he would like to take the role full time. However, he ensured that he would quit as CEO of the T20 World Cup Organising Committee.

“My approach throughout my entire career has been to focus on doing the best job I can with what I’ve been tasked with, and the future will look after itself. And I’ll continue the same approach.

“That’s (T20 World Cup) been a real priority over the last 48 hours. We’re reasonably well progressed and we will be appointing an interim because you just can’t do both,” he concluded.