Image Source: INDIA TODAY

The ICC T20 World Cup, to be held this year in October-November, is likely to be postponed by two years, as per International Cricket Council (ICC) sources. An official announcement on the matter will be made after the ICC meeting on May 28, though the current situation amid the Coronavirus pandemic has left the apex board with little options but to reschedule the league to 2022. The postponement of the T20 World Cup would pave way for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 13 in the September-October or October-November window. IPL was earlier scheduled to start on March 29 but was suspended in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Suggestions of the tournament to be rescheduled in the month of February-March next were also being made but with the IPL also taking place in March-April, an overdose of T20 cricket would've happened which those in charge didn't want. With the T20 World Cup also scheduled to be held in 2021, the cricket boards and the ICC are virtually left with no other option but to schedule the mega event in 2022, with Australia retaining the hosting rights. “The tournament cannot be held in February-March. Neither in 2021 nor 2022. It’ll have to be the October-November window,” sources as saying on the matter. As for the 2021 T20 World Cup, BCCI reserves the hosting rights and is expected to organise the event as scheduled. The postponement of T20 World Cup 2020 likely, BCCI can now host its biggest property the Indian Premier League this year. Barring the September to November window, the BCCI don't have a viable slot open to organise the franchise league. Although an official announcement on the entire subject is yet to be made, it seems likely that cricket fans can witness the T20 league take place this year around the same time when the T20 World Cup was supposed to happen.