T20 World Cup, FTP & more: What's in store as the ICC Board reconvenes

[Nergal]

 

 

The fate of the men's T20 World Cup hangs in the balance. © Getty

The International Cricket Council's board is set to meet via teleconference on Wednesday (June 10) to discuss on various issues, primary among them being the fate of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020. The board was originally slated to decide the tournament's conduct as well as chart a road-map for cricket's return from the Coronavirus-enforced hiatus on May 28, before putting off the matter by a couple of weeks under bizarre circumstances.

Why was the original meeting postponed?

The issues to be discussed on the agenda were deferred due to issues of 'confidentiality'. While the ICC didn't mention what the confidentiality issue was, it stated in a release, "A number of board members had raised their concerns over this issue recently and felt it required immediate attention to ensure the sanctity and confidentiality of board matters in line with the highest standards of governance."

What is the agenda for June 10?

The agenda remains the same as it had been for the last meeting:

- To decide the fate of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia in October-November

- Lay down the election procedure for the next chairman

- Revise the Future Tours Programme

The board may also discuss the details presented by the ICC ethics officer, who was asked to investigate the issue of confidentiality and generate a report.

Have things changed in the last 12 days?

There has been no significant change. There is also a possibility that all issues on the agenda may not be discussed on Wednesday either.

What's the status of the T20 World Cup now?

Even as the COVID-19 situation in Australia is improving and Cricket Australia has left a window open in their home itinerary to accommodate the tournament, the possibility of hosting the mega event this year remains as bleak as it was two weeks ago.

What else is relevant to the World T20 decision?

If the T20 World Cup is not played, it gives a window for all the teams to play bilateral series. Most importantly, it is just the window that BCCI would like for hosting an IPL this year. Also, it allows for the Asia Cup to be conducted in late September.

What about the ICC Chairman's post?

With the current ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar deciding against contesting for another tenure, England's Colin Graves continues to remain the frontrunner in the race as BCCI struggles to find the right candidate and awaits the election process to be drawn.

However, amidst all that, Pakistan's Ehsan Mani, who has previously served as the ICC President from 2003 to 2006, has entered the fray. With the associates looking for an alternative beyond Graves, Imran Khawaja and a BCCI candidate, Mani could find some support.