Reports: India likely to host New Zealand before T20 World Cup 2021

2021 is all set to be a blockbuster year for Indian cricket fans. After the Test series against Australia, India will take on England in a full-fledged home series in the months of February and March. Then comes the 14th IPL edition, after which India will play a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka followed by the Asia Cup. A short series against Zimbabwe is also in the plan, and that will be followed by a five-match Test series in England.

A series against South Africa is also likely to be crunched in as well. And then, comes the biggest event of all, the 2021 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India. Now, with the tournament just 10 months away, the Indian side will be looking to play a lot of T20I games to keep themselves acquainted and ready by the time the T20 World Cup comes calling in October.

The Indian side is already set to play as many as 5 T20Is against England in the month of March. Then, they are also slated to play 5 T20Is in Sri Lanka, and even the Asia Cup will be played in the T20I format this time.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also likely to host the New Zealand side this year well before the T20 World Cup. A BCCI source also revealed that the same was decided in the BCCI Apex Council Meeting, and all the details regarding the venues will be provided in a while. The source also added that the main idea is to play as many T20 games as possible, with the T20 World Cup coming up.

“The venues and detailing will be done in some time. But the idea is to play maximum T20 games with an eye on the T20 World Cup. It will help the boys prepare,” said the source as quoted by NDTV Sports.

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The source also added that the BCCI will speak to the Government regarding some tax exemption issues and secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Dhumal would take care of the proceedings. The source further revealed that even some issues regarding the 2016 T20 World Cup that was held in India are still pending as well.

“We are set to host the 2021 T20 World Cup as well as the 50-over World Cup in 2023. We need to speak to the government to see if we can get tax exemption, and for this, we have decided that our secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Dhumal will speak to the government. If the government does not agree, we will then decide on how to go about it. We also have the 2016 World T20 matter pending, so that will also have to be worked out,” said the source.