NEW DELHI: This year’s Twenty20 World Cup will be moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because to the COVID-19 situation in India and travel restrictions stemming from it, a top official of the Indian cricket board told Reuters on Monday.
The pandemic swept the world’s second-most populous nation last year and India’s total COVID-19 case load now stands at 30.27 million with total fatalities at 396,730, official data showed on Monday.
As the country scrambles to curb a more transmissible variant of the virus, experts have predicted a third wave of infection coinciding with the World Cup scheduled in October-November.
“We are monitoring the COVID-19 numbers in the country and there’s no clarity about travel restrictions at that time,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasure Arun Singh Dhumal said by telephone.
“We will stage it there in the UAE after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“We will inform the International Cricket Council soon,” he added.
World governing body ICC had set a June 28 deadline for the BCCI to take a decision on hosting the tournament.
India’s slim chances of hosting the 16-team World Cup effectively evaporated in May when the BCCI had to suspend the IPL as cases surged in the country.
The BCCI announced last month the remaining IPL matches would be played in the UAE, which has been the back-up venue for the 16-team World Cup.
The UAE hosted IPL’s entire 2020 season as well as the final phase of this year’s Pakistan Super League.
Cricket-T20 World Cup moved to UAE as India grapples with COVID-19
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Cricket-T20 World Cup moved to UAE as India grapples with COVID-19
- UAE hosted IPL’s entire 2020 season as well as the final phase of this year’s Pakistan Super League
- India’s total COVID-19 case load now stands at 30.27 million with total fatalities at 396,730
FIA president praises Saudi Arabia boost of Dakar Rally
- Mohammed Ben Sulayem will attend the climax of the 48th edition at the weekend
DUBAI: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has praised Saudi Arabia for helping the Dakar Rally emerge as one of the world’s top events, and boosting the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.
Ben Sulayem will attend the 48th edition of the legendary race as it reaches its climax at the weekend.
The opening round of the championship has attracted a record 72 entries. It will also mark the launch of the new FIA Master Drivers’ Championship, and the entry of Defender as a new manufacturer.
Ben Sulayem will be welcomed on Friday by Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.
The FIA president, who will speak at the closing ceremony on Saturday evening, said the event “continues to go from strength to strength.”
He added that the race now has a “record numbers of entries, new manufacturers, and ever-increasing competition in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, reflecting the continued global growth of motorsport.”
He thanked Prince Khalid and the federation “for hosting another outstanding event and delivering a truly world-class experience for competitors, fans, and all those involved.”
Joining Ben Sulayem on his visit will be Malcolm Wilson, the FIA’s deputy president for sport.
“The 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally continues to showcase both the growth of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and the strength of Cross-Country rallying as a whole,” said Wilson.
He added that it was “encouraging to see three manufacturers – Toyota, Dacia and Ford – all increasing their presence,” and welcomed Defender in the Stock category.
