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The suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) midway led to all sorts of speculations regarding the fate of the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in India later in the year. Notably, the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic caused havoc in India and the IPL bio-bubble was also hit with a number of COVID-19 cases, which left the organisers with no choice but to suspend the tournament. However, as the cases are now coming down, there emerges a slight chance that the BCCI might think of hosting the event in India itself even as United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as the backup venue.
And now BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has himself announced that India remains their "first choice" to host the ICC event. Thus, the cricket governing body of India would seek more time from ICC in the board meeting set to happen on Tuesday (1st July) before a final call on the T20 event is taken.
If COVID situation isn't good by July first week, WC will come to UAE: Shukla
"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 in a recent interview.
"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," he added.
"If the situation improves (in India) and we are able to host it, then we will be hosting there (in India)," he further said.
Meanwhile, the men and women's cricket teams are currently in Mumbai and will land in the United Kingdom on June 3.