'Our first choice is India' - BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla confident of conducting T20 World Cup in India

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials have sealed the fate of the IPL on May 29, stating the UAE as the venue to host the remaining 31 matches for the 14^th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the same meeting, BCCI officials also spoke that it will talk to the foreign boards about the availability of the players.

The other major discussion at the same meeting was regarding the verdict of the ICC T20 World Cup. India is the current host for the global event which is set to take place in October. Currently, the nation is battling a strong second wave of COVID-19, but the BCCI is confident that things might change as the event is still five months away.

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, in a recent interview with Khaleej Times, said that the board is still upbeat about hosting the showpiece event in India.

“That issue also has been deliberated. Our first choice is India. So we will be seeking some time from the ICC, a month or so, to decide about it,” Shukla told Khaleej Times.

“If towards the end of June or maybe, the first week of July, the situation is not good there (India), then obviously it (T20 World Cup) will come to the UAE.”

India were also the host last time when the T20 World Cup took place in 2016 and the event was a successful and competitive one. This time, too, Shukla is confident of hosting the high-profile event.

Rajiv Shukla confident of hosting the T20 World Cup in India

“If the situation improves (in India) and we are able to host it, then we will be hosting there (in India),” he further said.

The IPL came to a grinding halt due to rising Covid-19 cases inside the bio-bubbles of the squads. After a lot of deliberation, the BCCI has finally managed to get a window in September-October to complete the remaining matches in the UAE.

The fate of the availability of foreign players still is a bit unclear as already Australia have pulled out and England players too seem to be opting out due to a packed schedule in which they will play five-match Test series against India and The Hundred tournament.