Reports: Ireland keen to host T20 World Cup in 2030 alongside England, Wales and Scotland

In what can be called a major development, Ireland are in advanced talks to host the men’s T20 World Cup in 2030, in a partnership with England, Wales, and Scotland. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), who hosted the 2019 World Cup, are reportedly leading the bid with Ireland being slated as co-hosts alongside Scotland. Hence, it would be interesting to see how Ireland’s plans turn out.

For the unversed, several editions of the World Cups have been jointly hosted by nations. While India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh co-hosted the 2011 edition of the gala 50-over competition, New Zealand and Australia jointly hosted the 2015 edition. With no such joint proposals being presented in front of the International Cricket Council, Ireland have a very good chance of bagging the hosting rights alongside ECB.

Ireland keen to co-host the 2030 T20 World Cup

The major report was carried out by the Irish Independent. It claimed that Jack Chambers, Minister of State for Sport, wrote to ICC to express the Irish government’s assistance for a potential bid when the process of selecting World Cup hosts for 2024-31 restarted earlier this year. Notably, staging of an ICC event is usually agreed in turn between the bigger nations.

It was also learn’t that major officials in the Department of Sport have met with Cricket Ireland, the ECB, Cricket Scotland, UK Sport, and government representatives from Wales and Scotland to consider how to proceed to conduct the World Cup in UK.

The Department of Sport is even working with Cricket Ireland and other possible partners to discuss the budget position and the support that would be asked of public funding before a final decision is made. Meanwhile, Chambers, in his letter to ICC, expressed his assistance for a potential bid and promised to work closely with the officials in the UK to deliver a successful event.

It has to be noted that ICC is keen to grow the game globally and the same approach could help Ireland to bag the hosting rights for the competition. As per the council’s plans, as many as 20 teams will lock horns across 55 matches in the 2030 edition of the competition.