Chances Of ICC World T20 Brightens As Australian PM Hints To Welcome Limited Spectators At Stadiums

Australian PM Morrison said, initially, stadiums with a capacity below 40,000 will be allowed to house up to 10,000 fans, leaving out iconic cricket grounds like MCG, SCG and Adelaide Oval.

ICC T20 World Cup Trophy

In what comes as a positive development for resumption of cricket in Australia and brightening the chances of staging the ICC 2020 T20 World Cup, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday hinted at the return of up to 10,000 spectators at sporting venues from July as the Island nation battles against time to play host for the flagship multi-nation tounament in October-November. The International Cricket Council will in all probability take a decision on the the fate of the World Cup next month. The fate of the 16-team flagship events is still very much hazy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Test series against India is scheduled in December. Morrison said, initially, stadiums with a capacity below 40,000 will be allowed to house up to 10,000 fans, leaving out iconic cricket grounds like MCG, SCG and Adelaide Oval. "This is going to be looked at over the next few weeks. For the larger ones (venues) I would venture that it would be the subject of a discrete approval for each venue that would be worked out with the Chief Health Officer in each state or territory," Morrison was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo'. "So by the time you get into July there may be that type of opportunity for the rules that apply to those under 40,000 carry over to those above 40,000. These will be practical, commonsense issues, work through by the medical expert panel over the next few weeks and I think they will give a great instruction." Morrison said allowing spectators in stadiums with more than 40,000 capacity will take some more time. "When you're up above 40,000, you've got more than 10,000 people going to a gathering, that has implications for the egress and access of and to those premises, public transport crushes, all those sorts of things," he explained. "That will require much more significant work," Morrison added.