The ICC has threatened to withdraw the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup from India. The ICC has warned the BCCI that it could not reach a decision on the tax exemption after several deadlines.
The ICC lost about 20 million to 30 million during the 2016 T20 World Cup as India failed to resolve the issue of tax exemptions. Therefore, the ICC was urging to start work on tax exemption for the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup from February 2018.
Because if the tax exemption is not granted again, the final loss to the ICC could exceed 100 million.
Therefore, the ICC directed the BCCI to come to a decision on this matter by December 31, 2019. However, the deadline was extended twice as the BCCI could not complete the work on time. The BCCI has not yet resolved the issue, though the days have been extended to April 17 and May 18.
Instead, the BCCI has asked the ICC to add a clause called “Force Majeure” to the tournament agreement, citing the lockdown in India caused by the coronavirus. Failure to implement certain aspects of an agreement due to unavoidable reasons is called ‘force major’.
However, the ICC has directly rejected the BCCI’s request.
According to the ICC, the BCCI has not taken any action in this regard despite a long deadline. So the ICC wanted the BCCI to see evidence of discussions with the government on the matter.
In response, the BCCI submitted to the ICC copies of six letters sent by the organization to the Government of India on the matter, four of which were sent to the Government in 2018 and two to the Government in 2019.
Though the idea of the concerned, the agreement with the ICC’s broadcasting partner Star is to host two big tournaments in India. And so, in the end, even if the conflict intensifies, the 2021 T20 World Cup will be held in India.
News Room, May 27,2020