Former Australia captain Mark Taylor thinks that the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia this year is likely to get postponed and which will open a window for IPL.
T20 World Cup 2020 is scheduled to take place in Australia from October 18 to November 15, and on the other hand, IPL is postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus pandemic.
“I think that’s the most likely scenario (postponement of T20 World Cup) because 15 teams planning to come to Australia between October and November, 45 matches over a proposed seven venues, national travel is going to extremely difficult in the world we are living in,” Taylor told Channel Nine Sports.
The 55-year-old skipper thinks that the 14 day’s isolation will be logistically harder for the 16 nation’s players.
“14 days of isolation before that makes it even harder. More than likely that event is not going ahead. So if the ICC decides to postpone the event that will open the door for the BCCI to say that we will have our IPL is India which actually puts the onus back on individuals then rather than nations moving entire teams over to a certain country,” he added.
The former opener said that the if T20 World Cup is postponed it will help Cricket Australia to arrange a bilateral series with India and want their players to play in IPL. India is scheduled to tour Australia in October for 4 Tests, 3 ODI and T20I.
“So that is certainly a possibility or probability. Cricket Australia will obviously want the T20 World Cup but at the same time will be working hard with India that if their players go there for IPL, they will want India to come to Australia for our summer of cricket next year,” Taylor said.
Mark Taylor further added that the Cricket Australia will think of IPL more than T20 World Cup.
“Cricket in a way is fortunate with the timing. They have now got some time to do some planning. I have no doubt that CA will now be thinking about IPL and not T20 World Cup. They want India in this country. That’s what they want and they are already talking about Adelaide Oval as a hub,” he said.
Asked if it’s feasible to host the entire series in one venue, he said, “I think it is if you have to pick one state you probably pick Adelaide. They have got a hotel attached to the ground.”
International Cricket Council (ICC) will host a meeting via video conference on May 28, and board members can discuss the shift of the 2020 T20 World Cup to 2022.
