Former Australian cricketer, Dean Jones, has suggested moving the ICC T20 World Cup to New Zealand considering the country has eradicated COVID-19 successfully with no new cases for over a week. He posted this earlier today on Twitter.
Jacinda Ardern said NZ could move to alert level 1 next week, which means all social distancing measures and curbs on mass gatherings will be lifted, she said. Maybe play the T20 WC there? #justathought
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) June 3, 2020
New Zealand’s last COVID-19 patient was released from the hospital last week and the government has said that it is likely to lift the social distancing and other restrictions next week.
The mega event is scheduled to be held in Australia from 18th October to 15th November later this year, however, the coronavirus situation in the country is likely to get the event postponed. Cricket Australia has already requested the ICC to move the tournament to 2021 with India’s 2021 T20 World Cup also likely to be delayed by a year.
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The final decision will be taken in the ICC’s meeting on 10th June, however, it is almost certain that the World Cup will not go as originally planned.
Dean Jones’ suggestion has received a mixed response from cricket lovers. Let’s have a look at what the people are saying about the suggestion:
Good idea Deno 👍🏻
— Faisal Iqbal🇵🇰🏏فیصل اقبال (@FaisalIqbalCric) June 3, 2020
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Not sure you’ve thought that one through Deano
— Brett Dwyer (@BrettDwyer1) June 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/WeBleedBlue007/status/1268027809961840641
https://twitter.com/Cruedevil/status/1268002033576972288
https://twitter.com/KrisKasya/status/1268000319113326595
Still a risk, mate – for NZ, fans, teams & staff and it is really hard to see now what the situation will be in NZ (and elsewhere) in Oct-Nov.
I’d love to watch in Aus (have tickets already and 2015 was brilliant) but if it is safer to delay it to Mar 2021 we can live with it.— Hasan Jafri (@HasanJafriREAL) June 3, 2020
And take all the potentially infected cases to an apparently COVID-free place back again? 🧐
— Sabahat Naseem (@SabahatNaseem) June 3, 2020
Yeah with short grounds and security tighter than ever due to the incident when Bangladesh was there it is possible
— محمد جنید (@TheJuniii) June 3, 2020
They're lifting it since they have managed to bring the situation under control. Why would they allow 150 players along with the coaching staff into their country in such a precarious situation
— ABHiJiTH (@Abhijith_Noir) June 3, 2020
The renowned coach has also responded to some of the replies on his post:
They would be put in hubs or pods my dear circular friend https://t.co/OZLSWpxXxb
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) June 3, 2020
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) June 3, 2020
Well it’s a world event. There would be stringent calls and measures. All teams etc.. quarantined .. tested.. all put in pods. it could happen if they wanted it. https://t.co/gXasssgLRF
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) June 3, 2020
What are your thoughts on the suggestion? Do you think New Zealand should host the T20 World Cup later this year? Let us know in the comments.
Cricket match should be played everywhere herd immunity experiment can also be done this way.