Coronavirus outbreak: Cricket Australia considers to expand India Test series
The impact of coronavirus may see hosts Australia expanding the India Test series, later this year. India are scheduled to tour Down Under for a four-match Test leg following the completion of ICC T20 World Cup. At a time when sports community is reeling with coronavirus pandemic, Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts revealed that all options will be reviewed for hosting India.
Kevin Roberts talks about the prospect of next season
"If you contemplate the prospect of the international season in particular being affected, we have an issue of (losing revenue of) hundreds of millions of dollars on our hands. We'll be doing everything possible to launch and stage a season in 2020-21," Roberts said.
The Test series could be held behind closed doors
The two nations have had a legacy of facing each other in four-match Test series. However, the cricket boards are committed to add another Test match in order to cover the losses. Roberts also discussed the possibility of holding the series behind closed doors. "We want to stage a series that inspires the cricket world, with or without the people in stands," he said.
Australia are pushing to conduct the T20 World Cup
While quite a few bilateral series have been stalled due to coronavirus outbreak, Cricket Australia would be hoping to conduct the upcoming T20 World Cup sans disruption. However, there is still a cloud of uncertainty hovering around the tournament. The mega ICC tournament is scheduled to be held from October 18 to November 15. Besides, the travel restrictions in Australia may end by September.
Cricket Australia is undergoing a phase of losses
Earlier this month, the Australia cricket board laid off 80 per cent of its staff and slashed salaries of a few members in the wake of coronavirus outburst. The Australian cricket team is also expecting heavy pay cuts with the financial reserves of Cricket Australia already under a slump. Previously, the central contracts of players were delayed by the board.
