The Women’s T20 Challenge which is contested each year during the fag end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is unlikely to be held this year due to the massive spike in COVID cases in the country. With India recording over 3,50,000 cases each day, severe restrictions have been imposed by countries on air travel with India.
Countries like Australia, England, South Africa and West Indies have suspended flights coming from India, putting the subcontinent on a travel red list. The three-team Women’s T20 Challenge which comprises some of the best women cricketers across the world might not materialise this year as any of the foreign cricketers will be able to travel to India because of the massive ruckus the second wave of COVID has created.
"Getting Indian players quarantined is not an issue even now but no foreign player is keen to travel in the current climate. We can find a window later when things get better,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI on the basis of anonymity. Meanwhile, the BCCI was planning to hold a camp for Indian women which has been halted due to the impending crisis.
When the IPL was shifted to UAE last year, none of the Australian cricketers participated in the Women’s T20 Challenge as it was clashing with the Women’s Big Bash League. With UK, New Zealand and Australia all suspending flights from India, it is more or less impossible to hold the tournament. The three teams in contention are the Supernovas, Trailblazers and the Velocity.
“Women’s T20 challenge was supposed to be entirely held in Delhi. Right now, everyone is scared to come to Delhi and you can’t fault them,” another BCCI source close to PTI added on the condition of anonymity.