BCCI not pleased with ICC's delaying tactics

BCCI is learnt to be livid with ICC continuing to defer its decision to take a call on this year’s T20 World Cup. According to PTI, the BCCI has accused outgoing chairman Shashank Manohar of deliberately dragging his feet on the issue.

With Cricket Australia having already expressed its inability to host a global event amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCI feels that ICC’s decision to delay the call might hurt the Indian board’s preparation for the IPL. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has already made it clear that the board is keen on conducting the marquee event this year.

“Why is the outgoing ICC chairman (Manohar) creating confusion? If the host cricket board doesn’t want to conduct T20 World Cup, why will it take a month to announce the decision? Is he trying to hold BCCI to ransom?” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Earlier this month the International Cricket Council decided to wait till July and explore further plans before finalizing whether to conduct the T20 World Cup in view of the global pandemic. 

“It’s just not about the BCCI or the IPL. If ICC announces the postponement during this month, even those member nations whose players are not a part of IPL can plan their bilateral series in that window. The delay in decision-making will hurt everybody,” said the official.

Meanwhile, a report in Mumbai Mirror claimed, “It (IPL) will be between September-end and November-start, more specifically it could be from September 26 to November 8. These dates are subject to the expected postponement/cancellation of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.”