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Pakistan will not support ICC in rescheduling of T20 World Cup for IPL 2020: PCB official

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: May 28, 2020, 01:34 PM IST
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Eighth COVID-19 case hits Pakistan cricket team; not allowed to train yet Photograph:(Others)

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it will not support any move from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reschedule the T20 World Cup for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it will not support any move from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reschedule the T20 World Cup for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. PCB further said the ICC should not prioritise a ‘domestic tournament’ (IPL) for an international tournament or bilateral series. 

The BCCI is optimistic about conducting the IPL later in the year after the cash-rich tournament was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown measures. ICC Board meeting is slated for Thursday and a decision could be taken on the T20 World Cup, however, an official announcement is not expected following a meeting.

PCB is of the view that ICC members should wait for a couple of months before taking a call on T20 World Cup. The Pakistan board also said a lot will depend on how the West Indies and Pakistan’s tour of England goes.  

"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," a PCB official was quoted as saying by PTI.

"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 added.

If the IPL is cancelled then the BCCI is expected to take a financial hit of around Rs 4,000 crore. Sri Lanka and UAE have also proposed to host IPL 2020 outside India.

However, PCB will not support any move by the ICC if the board members are thinking of rescheduling the calendar to accommodate IPL 2020. 

"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," a source was quoted as saying by PTI.