Fast Australian bowler Pat Cummins said he wouldn’t mind playing the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates later this year if the tournament has to be rescheduled from India due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Cummins said the BCCI and ICC should work with the Indian government to analyze what is best for the people of the country before answering a call.

The 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended indefinitely on May 4 after positive Covid-19 cases emerged from bio-bubbles from franchises in Ahmedabad and Delhi. Speculation is rife that the second wave of Covid-19, which has marginalized India’s medical resources, could push the T20 World Cup out of India.

The BCCI has the hosting rights for the T20 World Championship, which is expected to be held in India in October and November. However, the tournament could be moved to the UAE, which has reportedly been designated as a replacement location. The ICC is unlikely to take a call anytime soon, but Cummins believes the T20 World Cup should be rescheduled from India if it strains the country’s resources.

In particular, IPL 2020 was played in the United Arab Emirates with no Covid-19 complications when the tournament began in September. The BCCI decided to host IPL in 6 cities in 2021, but when the second wave of Covid-19 infections began to rise in India, concerns grew before the tournament was suspended.

“If it’s a resource drain or if it’s unsafe, then I don’t think it’s right to play it here. That’s the first question that needs to be answered,” Cummins told The Age.

“It’s probably too early to say anything. It’s six months. The cricket authorities should work with the Indian government as a matter of priority to find out what’s best for the Indian people,” said Cummins.

Wanted to make sure playing the IPL was the right call: Cummins

Cummins who donated $ 50,000 To aid the fight against Covid-19 in India, he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders page, which reported the first two cases of Covid-19 earlier this month. Fast-paced bowler Cummins believes looking back always offers a better perspective, as do many who believe IPL could have happened in the UAE this time around.

In particular, Cummins and a few other Australians who were part of the IPL are in the Maldives awaiting the lifting of the travel ban imposed by the Australian government on returning citizens from India.

“The UAE IPL last year was brilliant, it went really well, but millions of people said it should have been played in India. So what are you doing? You can see both sides. You have this tournament with everyone organized.” the best advice, “said Cummins.

Meanwhile, Cummins also revealed how he weighed opposing opinions on IPL before heading to India to take part in the tournament. Questions have been asked about the continuation of the IPL, despite India battling the second wave of Covid-19 with more than 3 lakh new cases every day in April.

“The first thing I wanted to do was make sure that playing the IPL was the right call. When I spoke to people at home, some felt that there is no real cricket going on here in all Covid-19 cases. ‘ he said.

“But the response I got from people in India was the opposite. They all said that with so many people locked down, they really appreciate the fact that they spend three or four hours every night can see the IPL.

“It gives people a routine, it helps to keep them at home. Everyone was positive that the IPL is still going on,” he added.

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