Dubai on standby for T20 World Cup as Australian cricketers flee a country at breaking point

Just six months out from its proposed start, the T20 World Cup could be set for its third venue as cricket looks desperately to keep one of its flagship tournaments alive.

Kane Richardson of Royal Challengers Bangalore takes a catch of Manan Vohra of Rajasthan Royals during match 16 of the Vivo Indian Premier League 2021 between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals held at the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai on the 22nd April 2021. Photo by Rahul Gulati/ Sportzpics for IPL

COVID-ravaged India may be determined to finish the Indian Premier League but its hopes of hosting this year’s T20 World Cup are fast fading.

The International Cricket Council has refused to confirm reports Dubai has been placed on standby to host the October tournament but it is understood there have been lengthy informal talks about it.

India has been rocked by a surge of COVID cases and an IPL medical official told a player that the official figure of 350,000 new cases a day could be “that plus a zero” because many cases remain untested.

The talents of Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli may be seen in Dubai later this year.

The T20 World Cup was scheduled to be held in Australia last year but cancelled due to the COVID outbreak.

Dubai has a smaller population than India and has a sound relationship with Indian cricket, having hosted the 2020 IPL at three venues.

India is determined to press ahead with the final month of the IPL despite worldwide criticism for placing financial considerations ahead of the crippling health crisis.

English football great Gary Linekar is the latest big name to lash out.

“I love the IPL as much as any cricket fan, but it seems so terribly wrong for it to continue given the COVID catastrophe that’s currently occurring in India,” Linekar said on Twitter.

“People are dying faster than runs are being scored for crying out loud.”

It seems only mass vaccination significantly reducing COVID numbers is India‘s only chance of hosting this year’s World Cup.

India’s World Cup disaster as Aussies escape hell

Australians Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson managed to make a last-minute charter flight out of India, beating border closures by hours and are expected to make it home to Australia on Thursday.

The pair’s last-minute escape came hours after Scott Morrison told players they were on their own and would receive no special treatment as Australia closed borders to India until mid May.

While some of the Australians participating in the IPL are reportedly concerned for their safety others are happy to continue as the pandemic rages out of control in that country.

There are close to 40 Australians participating in the IPL with coaches, physiotherapists and commentators as well as players hired by various franchises.

There is a fierce debate in cricket over the propriety of holding the domestic tournament as the smoke from thousands of funeral pyres lingers and ordinary people die for want of oxygen, hospital beds and treatment.

Zampa and Richardson were able to secure seats on somebody else’s charter flight, but spent half a day unsure whether they would be able to leave.

Richardson has a young child and Zampa could not risk the uncertainty around returning later as he is due to wed in June and had previously postponed that event twice because of COVID.

The IPL and BCCI have discouraged mention of the humanitarian crisis during the broadcasts but recently encouraged public service announcements during the broadcast of matches.

Delhi coach Ricky Ponting is one of the few participants in the tournament prepared to acknowledge the situation.

Adam Zampa was able to secure seats on somebody else’s charter flight.

“There’s a strange feeling among our team right now,” Ponting said. “We are very aware of what is happening outside and through greater India at the moment.

“Obviously our hearts go out to every single person in India who is struggling with what is happening with COVID.

“We’ve had one of our players leave, Ravi Ashwin left to be with his family so it is probably affecting us and we are talking about it more than most teams are.

“There’s been some other revelations last night and today with decisions our government has made as far as Australians returning who have been in India.

“There’s no doubt there have been a few distractions along the way, but the travel side of it for us foreigners that are here is only a small part of what we are talking about and thinking about.

“On a daily basis we are thinking about what is happening outside and we understand how blessed we are to be able to turn up and do what we did tonight (play).

“Hopefully there are people around India who have got some enjoyment out of watching a great game of IPL cricket.”

Kane Richardson has packed his bags and abandoned the IPL competition.

Australian Cricketers Association chief Todd Greenburg insisted on Wednesday that the players who remain are not seeking any preferential treatment for their return in early June.

“We have a great duty of care to our players. What we are trying to do is give them as much as of the real-time information as possible … trying to reduce the anxiety,” Greenberg told SEN.

“They are obviously wonderful athletes and cricketers, but they are just like you and I, they are human beings and vulnerable to other challenges … we have to support them and assist them.

“In a best-case scenario, the COVID situation stabilises and life returns to some sort of some normality, and at the end of the tournament players can book their flights home. But we also have options A, B, C and D.

“We might have to work with the owners of the franchises to get charter flights for them to come home, that is certainly a viable option.

“With the spirit of co-operation we have got … I am sure we will be able to find a consolidated plan. We have time and space to be able to do that and fill our players with confidence.”

Indian cricket will be aware that it needs to pull the IPL off without a glitch for it is due to host the T20 World Cup later in the year.

Indian cricket boss Hemang Amin wrote a letter to the international players early in the week assuring them they would be returned to their home ports and insisting it was right to continue with the tournament.

“While you go about playing the sport, we all love, you are also doing something really important,” he said.

As some of you have said, “if we can help distract people from all the troubles of recent times, even if it is for a short while, we have done a great job”.

“When you all walk out onto the field, you are bringing hope to millions of people who have

tuned in. If, even for a minute, you can bring a smile on someone’s face, then you have done well. While you are professionals and will play to win, this time you are also playing for much more important …. humanity.”

Originally published as Dubai on standby for T20 World Cup as Australian cricketers flee a country at breaking point