 "T20 WC: Australia sees managing crowds, not logistics, as main challenge")
Australia Sports Minister Richard Colbeck has said the main factor with regards to the ICC World T20 later in the year is whether hosting the marquee event in empty stadiums would be worth it.
"I'd love to see an Australia-India Test series this summer and I'd really like to be able to see the World Cup go ahead, “ Colbeck said.
"... the issue is not so much the teams as the crowds and that's probably one of the hurdles we really have to consider and probably one that world cricket will look at pretty closely as well," Colbeck told SEN Radio on Monday.
All cricket has come to a halt amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has gripped the world. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been postponed and there is also a question mark on the T20 World Cup scheduled in October-November.
Colbeck said logistics of hosting the meet in the post Covid-19 world can be dealt with.
"We all know the difference in atmosphere ... but in a team sense I'd like to think that we can build some protocols with the cooperation of the sport and the players, that's going to be extremely important, with appropriate quarantine and bio-security protocols to see if we can make the competition go ahead."
Besides the World Cup, India's tour of Australia is slated to begin with a T20 tri-series in October and end with a four-match Test series in December.
Australia is thinking about making travel exemptions for the Indian team's tour Down Under to save the cricket board the financial loss but Colbeck said they need to be careful in expanding exemptions to other nations for the T20 World Cup.
"Those conversations are being had, discussions about what the protocols might look like," Colbeck said.
"They will be difficult because one of the things that has been a key part of our success is that we limited access to Australia from areas where there were significant outbreaks of Covid-19 and that's contributed to the low rate of spread we have now, “ he said.
"But we would have to be prepared to consider appropriate plans put forward by the various codes."
"I'd love to see an Australia-India Test series this summer and I'd really like to be able to see the World Cup go ahead, “ Colbeck said.
"... the issue is not so much the teams as the crowds and that's probably one of the hurdles we really have to consider and probably one that world cricket will look at pretty closely as well," Colbeck told SEN Radio on Monday.
All cricket has come to a halt amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has gripped the world. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been postponed and there is also a question mark on the T20 World Cup scheduled in October-November.
Colbeck said logistics of hosting the meet in the post Covid-19 world can be dealt with.
"We all know the difference in atmosphere ... but in a team sense I'd like to think that we can build some protocols with the cooperation of the sport and the players, that's going to be extremely important, with appropriate quarantine and bio-security protocols to see if we can make the competition go ahead."
Besides the World Cup, India's tour of Australia is slated to begin with a T20 tri-series in October and end with a four-match Test series in December.
Australia is thinking about making travel exemptions for the Indian team's tour Down Under to save the cricket board the financial loss but Colbeck said they need to be careful in expanding exemptions to other nations for the T20 World Cup.
"Those conversations are being had, discussions about what the protocols might look like," Colbeck said.
"They will be difficult because one of the things that has been a key part of our success is that we limited access to Australia from areas where there were significant outbreaks of Covid-19 and that's contributed to the low rate of spread we have now, “ he said.
"But we would have to be prepared to consider appropriate plans put forward by the various codes."
One subscription. Two world-class reads.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%