Cricket Australia hopeful of hosting men's T20 World Cup 2020 in October as per schedule

Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world. It is currently the second-largest stadium in the world but held the record for the largest until sometime back. A packed MCG could hold 100,024 fans in attendance and it’s pretty daunting to imagine those many fans together.

Recently, the famous ground hosted the final of the women’s T20 World Cup 2020 between India and Australia. The stadium housed more than 86,000 people on that day and the atmosphere was absolutely magnificent. The stadium will also host the final of the men’s T20 World Cup later this year. Amidst the outbreak of coronavirus, there is some sort of threat over this sporting spectacle.

Cricket Australia (CA) is hoping that by time tournament starts in October, the effect of this pandemic will be gone and regular sports can restart again. These doubts and concerns have been raised after many cricket match across the globe have either cancelled or postponed due to the outbreak of the virus.

‘We hope the tournament happens as planned’: Cricket Australia

But Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts recently said that an entire packed house in the final of the tournament will deliver an inspiring message to the world. “We are hoping that all forms of sport can be played again in a few weeks or a few months times”, Roberts said in a chat with cricket.com.au on Tuesday.

“None of us are experts in this situation obviously, so our hope is that we are back in very much normal circumstances come October and November when the men’s T20 World Cup is to be played. ”

The final is scheduled to be played on November 15. Roberts also stated that the board is hoping to arrange the men’s final just as the women’s final. “At this stage, we are planning on November 15, to have a full house at the MCG to inspire all the world through men’s cricket as the women’s cricketer did here,” Roberts clarified the plans regarding the big final.

The spread of coronavirus has stopped International cricket all across the globe. The Australian team had to cancel their ODI series and subsequent T20I series against New Zealand. In fact, the Indian Premier League has also been suspended as of now and there is no information on when it could begin.

The men’s T20 World Cup 2020 will start on October 18 and will run for 45 matches until the final at the MCG. The stadium has previously hosted the final of the men’s World Cup back in 1992 and 2015. More than 87,000 people had gathered to witness the 1992 final.

But that record was broken in 2015 when more than 93,000 people flocked the stadium to watch the final of the 50-over World Cup. This will be the first time that Australia is hosting the T20 World Cup and it’s only fit that MCG gets to host the final.