Organisers still looking to hold T20 World Cup in Australia in October

Future of World Test Championship and one-day international league in doubt

The 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Getty Images

Planning for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October is continuing as scheduled.

But the future of the first World Test Championship, the final of which is due to be played at Lord’s next summer, as well as the new one-day international league is in doubt.

The chief executives of the 12 Test nations, plus representatives from three Associate countries, spoke via conference call on Thursday to assess the impact of coronavirus on cricket.

The chairman of the ICC’s medical committee, Dr Peter Harcourt, said they were “working on a roadmap for the resumption of international cricket”.

Some sports in Australia are said to be considering a return soon.

But travel restrictions related to the global pandemic would mean hosting a tournament involving 16 international teams in October could be a logistical challenge.

Cricket Australia are reportedly ready to wait until as late as August for a decision to be made.

Kevin Roberts, the CA chief executive, said “all other options” are being considered, but that planning is continuing for an October 18 start.

“Cricket Australia is working closely with the ICC, the local organising committee and the Australian government so we have a comprehensive understanding of exactly what it will take to be able to play the [tournament] in October in Australia as planned,” Roberts said.

“We are also jointly exploring all other options in relation to staging the event, and will take the right decisions at the right time so we can host a wonderful celebration of the sport and keep everyone involved safe and well.”

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Pat Cummins trains

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The suspension of sport has caused a variety of scheduling issues in cricket.

Organisers of the lucrative Indian Premier League are said to be eyeing a rescheduled event in September-October, which could affect both the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

If the T20 event is put back to the start of next year, as is said to be under consideration, that could in turn knock back the next version of that tournament, scheduled for India next year.

Given a large swath of international cricket is certain to be lost, it is likely the Test championship will at least have its final delayed. That competition already had aborted starts in 2013 and 2017.

And the new, 13-team ODI league, could be cancelled altogether.

“There was agreement that the disrupted [future tours] programme would need to be collectively reviewed through to 2023 with a view to rescheduling as much of the cricket that has been postponed due to Covid-19 as possible,” an ICC statement read.

“Discussions and decisions on this and the future of both the World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League will be held at a later date when there is a greater understanding of the impact of the cricket that has been lost on the competitions.”

The UAE play in the tier below the ODI Super League.

They have already seen two Cricket World Cup League Two series – in United States this month, and Papua New Guinea in June – shelved because of the pandemic.

Their next cricket is due to be the Asia Cup qualifier in Malaysia in August, but the status of that – or the main competition it serves – remains in doubt