Tag: West Indies and US to host T20 World Cup 2024

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has denied exploiting technical loopholes to save star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga from missing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 matches later this year.

Hasaranga on Tuesday, came out of Test retirement after the third ODI against Bangladesh and was subsequently named in the Sri Lanka squad for the Test series against the same opposition.

However, he was slapped by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a two-match ban for breaching ICC’s Code of Conduct during the third ODI, ruling him out of the Test series, scheduled to commence on March 22.

He received a 50 per cent fine and accumulated three demerit points for his offence, which brought his total demerit points to eight in 24 months.

The all-rounder was already on five demerit points after receiving three demerit points in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month.

Now, with the addition of the latest demerit points, he has breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, according to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points.

The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first.

Hasaranga was named in Sri Lanka’s Test squad after coming out of retirement. As a result, he was banned from two Test matches but would have otherwise missed four T20Is in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

This raised eyebrows among the cricket circles about Hasaranga taking his retirement back to avoid missing games in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

SLC clarified that the all-rounder had expressed his desire to return to Test cricket before the third ODI against Bangladesh through an email on 16 March, owing to his improved fitness.

“It was about two weeks ago that he told us he was open to playing Tests again,” Ajantha Mendis, a member of Sri Lanka’s selection committee told ESPNcricinfo.

“We know how it looks, but this decision was taken well before the final ODI.”

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) and England Cricket Board (ECB) have rubbished the reports regarding the relocation of the T20 World Cup 2024 from the West Indies ad the United States of America (USA).

The speculations arose when an Indian news outlet reported that both West Indies and the US can be stripped of the hosting rights of the T20 World Cup 2024 citing administrative uncertainty in the USA Cricket (USAC).

The report further suggested that the hosts of the 2024 and 2030 championships might switch places, with England, Ireland, and Scotland hosting the tournament in 2024 and the West Indies/US seven years later. This would give the USAC time to resolve its administrative problems.

As per the latest development, however, spokespersons from both ICC and ECB have denied the aforementioned reports and confirmed that the mega event will be held as per planned.

“There is absolutely no truth to reports that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be moved from the West Indies and the USA,” said an ECB spokesperson.

“Since the event is organized by the ICC, their statement must be taken as binding and conclusive.”

As the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup is going to be the largest-ever congregation for an ICC event, with 20 teams and 55 matches. The ICC confirmed that the preparations for the event are in full swing and venue inspections have been completed.

“Venue inspections have recently been concluded in both host territories, and planning for the event in June 2024 is in full swing,” said the ICC spokesperson.

“The 2024 event is scheduled for June, and the only other possible location is England. If someone were to ask the ECB if they can host in 2024, the answer would be crystal clear – they can’t. So, the possibility doesn’t even arise. Just a glance at the England venue fixtures for next year will confirm this to anyone observant enough,” stated the ICC member.

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