The International Cricket Council (ICC) had given the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) time until June 28, 2021 to inform them if it was feasible for them to host the 2021 T20 World Cup in India given the COVID-19 situation in the country.
The BCCI waited till the last date to announce its decision to the ICC as it was keen to host the T20 World Cup in India. However, after much deliberation,+ the BCCI informed all state associations that it had made a decision not to host the T20 World Cup in India due to the COVID-19 situation.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said that it was a difficult decision for them but in the end they had to put the safety of the players first and as a result they decided not move the T20 World Cup to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
If you are looking to bet on the T20 World Cup, then we suggest signing up at any one of the following sportsbooks as they accept India bettors. The registration process is easy and you will find multiple banking options to process your deposits and withdrawals quickly.
UAE To Host T20 World Cup
BCCI top brass confirmed that the decision to shift the cup to the UAE was made by them and the ICC was informed of the change in venue. The ICC has also made it clear that though the T20 World Cup is being staged in the UAE, the BCCI will continue to be the hosts for the T20 World Cup.
There is no surprise that the BCCI decided to pick the UAE to host the T20 World Cup. The BCCI shifted the 2020 IPL to the UAE when India was fighting COVID. The BCCI decided to host the 2021 IPL in India but ran into problems midways after India was rocked by another COVID outbreak and the 2021 IPL had to be cancelled midways. The plan is to host the final part of the 2021 IPL in the UAE before the end of this year.
The T20 World Cup will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The ICC had also requested the BCCI earlier this month to look for a fourth stadium to host the T20 World Cup and it appears that the BCCI is looking to go with Oman.
Cricket officials from Oman are keen on getting the stadium in Muscat ready infrastructure wise to host one leg of the T20 World Cup.
Oman To Host First Round Of Games
The 2021 T20 World Cup will see as many as 20 teams compete. The first round of games will feature 8 teams who will battle it out and the top four will then move into the Super 12 stage. Oman is expected to play host to the first round of games.
The teams that will take part in the first round of games include Bangladesh, Oman, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia and Scotland. The top four teams go to the Super 12 stage which feature Afghanistan, Australia, India, England, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand.
BCCI To Announce Dates Later
The BCCI confirmed that it will release the dates and schedule of games for the T20 World Cup at a later stage. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the T20 World Cup will run from Oct 17 to Nov 14.
If you would like to bet on other international sports, we recommend creating an account at the sportsbook listed below.
