In recent months, concerns had arisen regarding India’s hosting of the ICC World Cup 2023 due to tax exemption issues. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken swift action to allay these fears, with ICC CEO David Richardson reassuring that there are no plans to revoke India’s hosting rights for the tournament.
Richardson emphasized the importance of obtaining tax exemptions for international cricket, as the revenue generated by the ICC is reinvested into the sport.
This financial support benefits countries like the West Indies, which may not generate as much revenue independently.
The tax exemption issue had arisen when the Indian government declined to provide tax exemptions during the hosting of the 2016 World T20, prompting the ICC to request that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) either pay a compensation of USD 23 million (Rs 161 crore) or risk losing the hosting rights for the 2023 World Cup.
Despite the tax exemption challenges, Richardson stated, “But having said that there are no plans of taking away the hosting (from India), and I’m sure we will get it (exemption) in the end; we have still got a lot of time.” This statement offers a reassuring outlook for cricket fans and organizers alike.
Additionally, the schedule for the 2020 T20 World Cup was recently announced, with an interesting development. For the first time since 2011, India and Pakistan will not face each other in the group stages of the tournament. Richardson clarified that the groups were determined based on rankings, and there was no feasible way for the neighboring nations to meet before the semi-finals.
“We have arranged the groups in a way that has credibility and is based on the ranking system. The teams are placed according to their ranks. In this case, Pakistan were number one in the rankings in their group and India number two,” explained Richardson. He further added, “We found no credible way of putting them in the same group. Hopefully, from a world perspective, they will meet each other in the semi-finals or final.”
In conclusion, the ICC’s commitment to resolving tax exemption issues and their assurance that India will retain the hosting rights for the World Cup 2023 bring much-needed relief to cricket enthusiasts and underscore the importance of tax exemptions in sustaining international cricket’s growth and support for smaller cricketing nations. The focus now shifts to resolving the outstanding matters to ensure the successful hosting of this prestigious cricket event.
Ajmal Khan