ICC plan to stage 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE

Governing body consider having another venue in the region The possibility of the UAE staging a World Cup in cricket for the first time has moved a step closer after the ICC confirmed they are moving ahead with planning for this year’s T20 event here. A final decision on where the tournament will be played will be taken later this month. However, the prospect of it being switched from India to the Emirates has grown stronger this week. Senior officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India have been in Dubai in recent days to finalise plans for the remainder of the suspended 2021 IPL season in the Emirates. The decision was taken to relocate that competition given the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in India. The IPL season will be played to its conclusion in a window just preceding the scheduled 20-over over World Cup. Although a decision has yet to be taken, the game’s governing body are now pressing on with plans to stage that event in the UAE, too – as well as possibly one other venue in the region. “The ICC Board has requested management focus its planning efforts for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 on the event being staged in the UAE with the possibility of including another venue in the Middle East,” the ICC said in a statement. “A final decision on the host country will be taken later this month. The Board also confirmed that the BCCI will remain the hosts of the event regardless of where the event is played.” Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have an established pedigree for staging international cricket, and the Emirates have been on standby to stage the 2021 T20 World Cup for some while now. The UAE’s reputation for delivering major matches in exacting conditions was further enhanced during last year’s IPL.