SLC to bid for World Cups
View(s):Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is to throw their hat into the ring for hosting either the World Cup T20 or the 50-over World Cup as the International Cricket Council (ICC) is exploring a hosting model where countries would bid during the post-2023 cricket cycle.
The ICC adapted an unofficial rotation system where each cricket playing region of the world have the opportunity to host World Cups after every 20 years but are looking at a model followed by other sports bodies like FIFA – the world body for football who invites their members to bid for hosting rights.
Sri Lanka co-hosted the 50-over World Cup twice – first in 1996 with India and Pakistan and then in 2011 with India and Bangladesh – while they played hosts for the 2012 World T20 tournament. The country has also hosted the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 and the ICC Under-19 World Cups in 2000 and 2006.
India will host the last two World Cups – the 50 over tournament in 2023 and WorldT20 tournament in 2021 – in the current cricket cycle.
“The ICC wants us to bid for these tournaments and we need the government backing,” said SLC president Shammi Silva. The ICC is also currently talking their member boards around the world and their respective governments to encourage countries to bid for ICC tournaments.
“We need the government backing for it,” he adds. Accordingly, SLC will initiate discussions with the government to seek their support to host at least one of the two major limited over events during the next cricket cycle.
The World Cup and the WorldT20 that Sri Lanka hosted in 2011 and 2012 were hugely popular among Sri Lankan fans and also contributed towards upgrading of the infra-structure facilities, even though the board almost went bankrupt by spending lavishly. The events also made a huge impact for tourism in the country.
The 50-over World Cup and the World Test Championships – the newest addition to ICC tournaments will be held every four years – but the world body is yet to decide the frequency of the WorldT20 event. Initially the tournament was conducted bi-annually but later the ICC decided to have it quadrennially. However this has also been changed. Following this year’s tournament in Australia, India will host it in 2021.