Women’s T20 Challenge 2021 likely to be postponed due to COVID-19 wave in India
The dangerous surge of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths in India is set to lead to the postponement of this year’s Women’s T20 Challenge tournament.
With the latest wave of the pandemic posing multiple health and logistical challenges, ESPNcricinfo reported, “the BCCI is likely to postpone the fourth edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge.”
Multiple countries have red-listed India and have imposed restrictions on travel to and from here keeping in mind the devastating effects of the latest wave of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
It obviously means potential unavailability of overseas stars for the Women’s T20 Challenge, which is considered a building ground towards a full-fledged women’s IPL in the future.
While there hasn’t been any official announcement related
to the Women’s T20 Challenge from the BCCI yet, the ESPNcricinfo report states, “officials have internally acknowledged the several logistical challenges involved in flying in overseas players from countries like England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.”
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Women’s T20 Challenge 2021 likely to be postponed due to COVID-19 wave in India
Australia and England, the two countries from where the Women’s T20 Challenge gets the biggest of overseas names, won’t be in a position to send their players for the three-team competition because of the health crisis. After the UK government red-listed India, the Australian one on Tuesday (April 27) suspended all direct passenger flights from India.
The Women’s T20 Challenge was once again set to be held during the playoff week for the men’s IPL. As per the schedule for the IPL 2021, that would’ve meant the last week of May providing a window for the event.
Held in Sharjah last year and in Jaipur back in 2019, the Women’s T20 Challenge has always been held at a single venue since its inception. It is understood that the BCCI had identified Delhi as a potential host for the competition this season before the pandemic ruined the plan.
In 2018, the Women’s T20 Challenge began as a one-off exhibition match between two teams but then expanded from 2019 to feature three sides, namely Velocity, Supernovas, and Trailblazers, who contest a single round of games before the final. The three teams are led by three prominent names in Indian cricket – Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana, respectively.