Former Pakistan Captain and Current Chief Selector Inzammam-ul-Haq, stated that questions will be raised in International cricket community if the Indian Premier league is slotted in the window originally allotted for the ICC T20 World cup scheduled to be held in Australia in coming October/November.
Inzamam has said that T20 World cup was most likely to be postponed due the COVID-19 threat and accommodating the cash rich IPL in its place could raise questions. Though the ICC, is yet to decide finally about the fate of the world cup which is slated to be held from Oct 18 to Nov 15 this year.
Inzammam said ’ There were rumors that the world cup was supposedly clashing with the Indian Premier League and the Australia India series, therefore it won’t take place”. The Indian board is strong and has clout in the ICC. If Australia says that we cannot hold the World Cup due to COVID -19 constraints, then their stance will be easily accepted ,however if another cricketing event happens during the same time then definitely questions will be raised”, he said.
The 50-year old former star Pakistani batsman who has scored 8830 runs in 120 Tests, and 11739 runs in 379 ODIs said ‘ People will think if a country cannot host 12 to 14 (16 teams) for World Cup due to coronavirus threat, then how can ICC, give permission to another country to hold the IPL during the same dates ICC should not give priority to private leagues over internationals.
As this is likely to lead young players towards these leagues in preference to International matches’. Inzammam , however agreed that hosting 16 teams along with support staff for a mega tournament in times of Coronavirus threat was a tough task.
The fate of Asia which Pakistan will be held in September this year in a neutral country due to security reasons is also in turmoil, as the situation is not clear as coronavirus threat is very much alive. Inzamam said “The ICC, and the ACC,( Asian Cricket Council ) and all Cricket Boards should get together and give a strong message that any instance of giving priority to private leagues instead of International cricket will not be tolerated.”
