Cricket’s Euro T20 Slam in which Cricket Ireland is a key player, has confirmed that complications caused by Covid-19 and scheduling complexities mean that a pathway forward for a 2021 launch is no longer viable.
The Board met recently to consider options, as well as the implications and risks posed by recent announcements around the cricket world.
While there remains a positive view for the future of the event, organisers, financial backers and the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands agreed that moving the launch to 2022 would offer the competition a better chance of success.
Amongst the main concerns raised were the challenges posed by recent variants of the coronavirus creating a great deal of uncertainty on international travel, quarantining restrictions being tightened, pressure on available hotel accommodation during late summer / early autumn in Ireland, and rescheduled leagues, particularly the Indian Premier League, now impinging on the window.
“Last year we had agreed to tweak the structure of the competition – in response to the pandemic, envisioning the event being held in one country alone to minimise travel and negotiate various quarantining requirements,” said Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom.
“You only have to look at the impacts of the evolving pandemic on established competitions like the IPL and PSL, to see the complexity and uncertainty that still needs to be managed.”
“While the vaccine roll-out has provided hope on the horizon, a combination of new variants, accommodation shortages in Ireland, and – possibly the most crucial element – the rescheduling of the IPL into the window envisaged to play the Euro T20 Slam – mean that the viability of getting a new event established in 2021 will not be possible.”
“While there may be a sense of disappointment for now – the further time now available will give the concept the best chance to succeed in the longer term. With a men’s T20 World Cup approaching in October, the three participating cricket boards will investigate the feasibility of a tri-series, similar to that which was organised in 2019.”
“Circumstances have to be right for the Boards, players, sponsors and franchise owners to be in a position to launch our inaugural season,” said Prishant Mishra, of Woods Entertainment the promoters of the event.
“While it was looking like a challenging prospect getting the event up and running this year given the pandemic and its knock-on impacts around travel and accommodation, perhaps the most disruptive element of late to contend with is the IPL’s rescheduling to a similar operating window.”
“Our intention all along has been to offer the cricketing public a competition that is truly world-class – in playing talent, production value and experience. Like the cricket boards involved, we believe the signs are positive for the future of the event and we remain determined to get an event underway in 2022.”
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