On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the T20 World Cup 2021 would start from October 17, 2021, to November 14, 2021. They are scheduled to be played in UAE and Oman.
The official statement released by ICC read, “The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 will be staged in the UAE and Oman due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in India.”
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Initially, it was planned that India would host the tournament but now it has four venues – Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.
ICC CEO Geoff Allardyce was quoted saying in the release, “Our priority is to deliver the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 safely, in full and in its current window.
We are incredibly disappointed not to be hosting the event in India, the decision gives us the certainty we need to stage the event in a country that is a proven international host of multi-team events in a bio-secure environment.”
The ICC confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would be the host of the event.
On this, the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said, “We would have been happier hosting it in India but considering the uncertainty due to the Covid 19 situation and the importance of a world championship, the BCCI will now continue to host this tournament in UAE and Oman.
The BCCI is looking forward to hosting the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 tournament in UAE and Oman. The BCCI is looking forward to creating a spectacle.”
Pankaj Khimji, Chairman of Oman Khimji, said, “It is indeed a great moment for Oman Cricket to be selected as a venue/host of the forthcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup. We shall leave no stone unturned to exceed the requirements of BCCI and ICC.”
Khalid Al Zarooni, Emirates Cricket Board Vice president felt honored and said, “Emirates Cricket Board is honored that the BCCI and the ICC have entrusted us with staging and delivering the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The UAE's reputation as being a safe country in which to host high-profile sporting events is a strong complement to our government's unwavering commitment to implementing and monitoring effective health practices during the pandemic.”
Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 was hosted by the UAE and it would also host the remaining IPL 2021 session, which was suspended due to Covid-19 cases in the tournament bio-bubble.