Postponement of men’s T20 World Cup could hamper women’s World Cup 2021: Ellyse Perry  

Despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) going ahead as per schedule, there has been no clarity about the men’s T20 World Cup supposed to be held in Australia in October-November due to COVID-19 pandemic. Australia star all-rounder Ellyse Perry feels that the women’s 50-over World Cup next year could get hampered if the men’s event to be played this year is postponed.



The Women’s World Cup is slated to be held in New Zealand from February 6 to March 7 and it is believed that Cricket Australia might consider those dates for the men’s T20 event in case they are unable to stage it this year.



“It depends on what happens to the men’s T20 World Cup, that could have an impact on the women’s World Cup,” Perry was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz. “If that (men’s T20) tournament is postponed to next year, it’s pretty hard to think two world events are feasible to run at about the same time. I would imagine those events can’t be played concurrently.



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“It’s really hard to have a gut feel of where things might go. In the scheme of things a World Cup seems a bit irrelevant given everything else that has gone on,” she added. Meanwhile, it should be kept in mind that India is slated to host men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.



Perry, who played a crucial role in their successful T20 World Cup campaign this year at home in February, further said Australia would continue to prepare as if the World Cup is happening next summer and adjust accordingly if the timing changes. Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Earl Eddings has already stated that the T20 World Cup looks ‘unrealistic’ amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has so far claimed more than 4.5 lakh lives across the world.



“While it hasn't been formally called off this year, or postponed, trying to get sixteen countries into Australia in the current world, where most countries are still going through COVID spiking, I think it is unrealistic, or it's going to be very, very difficult,” said Eddings. “The ICC is having meetings as we speak, it's a bit of a movable feast at the moment,” he added.