The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 was originally scheduled to be held in New Zealand in February next year but with the current global pandemic, there is a lot of doubts on whether the tournament can be played at the assigned date.
Australian World Cup-winning captain Meg Lanning is wary about the fact that all teams will not get sufficient time and opportunity to prepare due to COVID-19.
Australia women’s team captain Meg Lanning has said that every team needs to have adequate preparation time for the women’s world cup. #WomensWorldCup2020 pic.twitter.com/aprDVOAY9h
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ICC is rumored to make a decision about the tournament in a couple of weeks. They have to make a decision about the location of the tournament as there is a fear of a second wave of the virus in New Zealand. ICC also has to make a decision on the qualifying tournament, which was set to be held in Sri Lanka in July. Insiders say that if the qualifier is to be played, it will be played in UAE which is also the location of choice for the men’s IPL.
“It’s something the ICC will have to weigh up in whether the tournament goes ahead,” Lanning said.
“Will every team in the competition have the opportunity to prepare adequately for a World Cup? There are still a few teams that have to go through the qualifying process so I’m not sure how that will pan out.
“There are a few more decisions to be made around it rather than whether it can just go ahead or not. It’s a pretty difficult position to be in, but as a player you want things to be as equal and fair as they can be heading into a big world tournament and I’m sure the organizers will make sure that happens.”
Lanning was also concerned about the teams that are left to qualify and if they will have equal preparation time. The teams that are yet to qualify include Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, USA, and the Netherlands.
Currently, there is a lot of uncertainty in women’s cricket regarding scheduling due to COVID-19, Indian Women were supposed to travel to England for a tri-series with South Africa but the BCCI has said that won’t happen but South Africa’s cricket board are still hoping that their team will tour.
Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to play a series in September, however, India is to only tour Australia next year in January. The calendar for Indian women’s cricket team looks confused at the moment.
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