T20 World Cup this Year Appears Unlikely

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has said that it appears difficult that the T20 World Cup is held this year. It doesn’t seem likely he says, for ICC events to take place, but there will not be a loss due to the absence of ICC events.

Chairman Ehsan Mani answered media questions via video-link. He said it is true that the COVID19 situation in Australia and New Zealand is relatively better but both boards are very careful on this issue so it doesn’t seem likely that any ICC event will happen this year.

He said that the ICC has held three to four teleconferences in one month. There is another meeting in the coming week in which all matters will be addressed. There are several countries and hence multiple stakeholders in a big event so in such a situation if even two or three virus victims surface, it will get really complicated, so it seems to me that such events won’t be held.

Chairman PCB said that PSL matches also got affected due to COVID19. If the situation improves we will have to make a decision regarding them by December after which there will be no time. He said that the corona situation is expected to worsen therefore we cannot even say with certainty whether the domestic season will take place on time. It seems like it will also be delayed and the matter is unfortunately beyond our control. We cannot compromise on the safety of any player or stakeholder.

Regarding the Asia Cup he said that it is important to hold it due to developing nations in Asia. That is why we are talking of holding the tournament in Sri Lanka, and for Pakistan to host it at some time on the future because the COVID19 situation in Sri Lanka is better than that in UAE.

He said he is not looking toward any position in the ICC. He has returned to serve Pakistan at the behest of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Some members of the ICC have asked him to take on the position of ICC President but he has no intention at this time of taking it up.

He said he often meets with Prime Minister Imran Khan and holds discussions with him. He said the obstacles in the way of the domestic structure were discussed in detail and now he hopes matters will go forward quickly. We have given a detailed draft for legislation regarding match-fixing, so that the Ministry of Law and Justice can give it a final form and implement it. The purpose is to criminalise the practice so that perpetrators can go to jail. Similar laws exist in Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia and England, under which Muhammad Amir and the others had to do jail-time.

Ehsan Mani reiterated that departments have played a crucial role in our cricket but it is not now a sustainable model. He said people whose earnings have dried up are the ones complaining about the model, and they don’t want change in the game: they want the status quo to be maintained. All these critics are talking due to a personal agenda. The board spent a lot of money in the name of consultancy but got nothing in return.

He said that we are sending the team to England after deliberation and if the situation deteriorates at any point we will re-evaluate our decision. This tour is a lifeline for England and crucial for world cricket. This will not be marketed with England because a tour by them has been under discussion over the past year. We hope that England will tour according to schedule. For now we are helping out England and before us, West Indies is present there.

He said that the PSL live streaming issue was needlessly made a brouhaha of for certain vested interests. It would have been no use going to court over the issue. The stakeholder have done all they could and have apologised over the issue. I only read about issues with the PSL in the newspapers. When we talk to the franchise owners, there is no such thing.

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