BCCI Accuses ICC President Shashank Manohar Of Deliberately Delaying Decision Over T20 World Cup's Fate

“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,” the official said.

Shashank Manohar

A war of words has broken out between ICC and BCCI over the staging of the ICC World T20 as the Board of Control of Control for India has accused ICC's outgoing chairman Shashank Manohar of deliberately delaying the decision on the fate of the flaghsip T20 event, scheduled to be held later 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 was quoted as saying by PTI. With Cricket Australia’s chairman Earl Eddings once again pointing out that Australian cricket board would find it tough to host the global event from October 18-November 15, the BCCI feels that the ICC’s delaying tactic could severely dent their opportunity of staging for the Indian Premier League in that window of possibility. The ICC, after a board meeting earlier this month, decided to wait another month and explore more contingency plans before taking a call on the event in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The official feels that a quick decision on the matter would also help member nations plan their bilateral engagements. “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,” the official said. The likely hosts include Sri Lanka where there are three grounds – Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, Pallekele and Hambantota. Sri Lanka is being seen as more cost effective compared to the UAE with batting great Sunil Gavaskar giving his vote of approval for a September IPL.