The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, that was earlier slated to start from March 29 this year, had to be called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 13th edition of the cash-rich league will be staged in the United Arab Emirates taking into account the rise of Covid-19 cases in India.
Pakistan cricket team's former paceman Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the BCCI, alleging that the Indian cricket board played a role in the ICC postponing the T20 World Cup later this year to make room for the IPL.
"Asia Cup could have definitely happened, it would have been a great chance for India and Pakistan to play against each other. There are many reasons behind this. I don't want to get into that," Akhtar said while speaking to Geo Cricket on YouTube.
"T20 World Cup could have also happened, but I had already said earlier that they won't let it happen. IPL should not be damaged, let the World Cup go to hell," Akhtar said.
With the postponement of the men's T20 World Cup in Australia -- from October 18 to November 15 -- due to COVID-19 pandemic, the decks are pretty much cleared for the BCCI to stage the IPL. BCCI now has set its eyes on hosting the tournament in the UAE from September 26 to November 8.
Akhtar brought up the example of 'Monkey Gate' controversy where Indian cricket team's senior spinner Harbhajan Singh was accused of hurling racial taunts at Australian cricket team's former star all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the India vs Australia second Test match in Sydney.
"Sometimes they get easy wickets in Melbourne, at times someone calls another person a monkey but gets saved, the talk goes to boycotting the series. I am asking the Australians, where are their ethics?" Akhtar said.
"They (BCCI) said to end the series and they (Australian Board) said no such incident happened. Are these your moral grounds, did you not get the sounds on the mic," Akhtar added.
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