This year’s Twenty20 World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in India, will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from Oct. 17, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said last week, as India struggles to curb a surge in COVID-19 infections.
The ICC said the first round of the tournament, comprising the eight qualifying teams, will now be split between Oman and the UAE.
“Four of three teams will then progress in the Super T20s round where they will join the eight automatic qualifiers, ” the ICC said in a statement.
The matches in the UAE will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, while the Oman Cricket Academy Ground is the fourth venue.
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia, Oman and Papau New Guinea will vie to grab the four spots and join the top eight teams in the Super 12s stage.
West Indies is the defending champion.
The UAE hosted the entire 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League and will also be the venue for the final phase of this year’s IPL, which was suspended in June due to the COVID-19 crisis in India. Abu Dhabi hosted the final leg of this year’s Pakistan Super League.
