BCCI Official Accuses Shashank Manohar for Creating Confusion on T20 World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not happy with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision of delaying in deciding the fate of the T20 World Cup 2020 to be held in Australia later this year. Cricket Australia had to host the tournament from October 18 to November 15. However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CA’s chairman Earl Eddings feels that it would be ‘unrealistic’ to organize the World Cup in these difficult times. He said that it would be very difficult to arrange the logistics required for the smooth functioning of the tournament. 

As per a PTI report, a senior BCCI official accused ICC of not giving a clear picture of the World Cup. The official feels that ICC’s outgoing chairman Shashank Manohar is deliberately dragging the matter so that the Indian board can’t plan to host the Indian Premier League in the free window. 

“Why is the outgoing ICC chairman (Manohar) creating confusion? If the host cricket board doesn’t want to conduct the T20 World Cup, why will it take a month to announce the decision? Is he trying to hold BCCI to ransom?” the official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Delay in the decision on the T20 World Cup will hurt everybody: BCCI official

The relationship between Shashank Manohar and BCCI is not healthy. Sources suggest that N Srinivasan and his allies within the BCCI are the root cause of the tension. The BCCI official said that ICC’s present chairman always works against the interest of the Indian board. Also, he added that the governing body should announce it’s decision soon so that the boards can plan the international calendar accordingly. 

The official quoted, “It’s just not about the BCCI or the IPL. If ICC announces the postponement during this month. Even those member nations whose players are not a part of IPL can plan their bilateral series in that window. The delay in decision-making will hurt everybody,” 

He added, “He has been a former BCCI president, who worked against our interest. BCCI’s revenue share was reduced despite the country contributing to ICC’s revenue. Why do you thrive in confusion? I want to ask Mr. Manohar. The current situation is only increasing the confusion, creating a number of dilemmas,”