Pakistan won’t support any move where IPL is given preference over T20 World Cup, says PCB official

International Cricket Council meetings will begin on Thursday to discuss the fate of the T20 World Cup.

A Pakistan Cricket Board official has said the board would not support any move to reschedule this year’s T20 World Cup to 2021 as it would hit the entire international calendar.

A PCB official, ahead of the International Cricket Council meetings beginning on Thursday to discuss the fate of the T20 World Cup, said that Pakistan’s stance will be to push for a wait and watch policy.

“We are in May and there is still time. The ICC members should wait and see where this coronavirus pandemic goes. A decision on staging the event can be taken even after say two months,” he said.

He also noted that by that time it would have become clear if member boards are able to resume full scale cricket activities in line with the policies of their governments on the pandemic.

“There is no cricket being played right now but in two months time we will know what is the position because West Indies and Pakistan are to play in England if things go according to plan,” he said.

The media has speculated that the ICC board members might move the global event to February-March next year or even postpone it to 2022 as another World T20 Cup is scheduled in India in 2021.

Officials in the PCB confirmed the board was not happy with reports that the Asia Cup and World T20 will be postponed this year, giving the Board of Control for Cricket in India a possible window to organise the Indian Premier League.

“The IPL is a domestic event of the BCCI and cannot be given preference over ICC events or bilateral agreements. Pakistan will not support any such move,” one official said.

But he conceded that the PCB is already working on a plan to line up cricket activities in case the Asia Cup and World T20 Cup are not held this year.

The BCCI has said it stands to lose around Rs 4000 core if the IPL is not held this year.

(with PTI inputs)