World T20: MCA wants Australia encounter in order to avoid Pakistan - Report

The BCCI is open to alotting India-Australia game to the MCA.

New Delhi: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) are planning to request the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allot the India versus Australia league encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 at Wankhede.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the MCA are considering to scrap it as a venue for semi-final in order to avoid hosting the Pakistani team. Reports suggest that the decision was taken during the MCA’s managing committee meeting held on Sunday where president Sharad Pawar had expressed his desire to host an India match.

The BCCI has sent a proposed T20 World Cup schedule to the ICC for approval. The Group Stage encounter between India and Australia was supposed to be held in Chennai, with Mumbai and Delhi being the venues for the two semifinals.

Chennai has already been ruled out as a venue for India matches and it is still unclear whether the MA Chidambaram Stadium will even play host during the mega tourney owing to the issue regarding its three disputed stands.

The issue with Chennai leaves the India-Australia game in a situation where it is likely undecided where it would be played. According to a BCCI official, the national body is likely to oblige if MCA comes ahead with the request.

“If the MCA requests us then we have no problem in alloting them the India vs Australia game. It will be the best scenario for all of us, including the MCA,” he said.

As per a proposed plan, the India-Pakistan league encounter will be held at the Dharamsala stadium. Reports claim that the BCCI had already decided that Pakistan will not be playing any of their league matches in Maharasthra owing to the security risks involved with political parties like Shiv Sena.

“Having knockouts here could lead to a law and order issue if Pakistan manages to reach the semis. Pawar has said that he will be speaking with BCCI president Shashank Manohar on this matter and instead of hosting knockouts, the MCA will express their desire to host the league encounter against Australia,” a MCA official explained.