A T20 World Cup without fans is becoming a distinct possibility in this current climate of pandemic.
COVID-19 is affecting us all around the world, and there’s no sign the pandemic will let up anytime soon. More to the point, host nation Australia isn’t looking to ease restrictions too quickly, focussing instead on keeping its curve flat.
With the Australian Prime Minister having warned the country to expect some level of disruption for six months, the men’s T20 World Cup could well be played without fans.
Many greats of the game have called for the tournament to be postponed. This would have other knock-on factors involving the IPL, which might want to use this window to play its tournament, though it’s unlikely.
One player in particular calling for a postponement is former Australian captain Allan Border, who said, “I just can’t imagine playing at empty stadiums, it defies belief”.
(Jono Searle – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Moreover, he’s concerned players coming into Australia from other countries could cause major issues.
“Having teams, support staff and everyone else associated with the game wandering around the country, playing games of cricket, but you can’t let people into the grounds. I just can’t see it happening,” he said.
Current player T20 star Glen Maxwell can’t imagine a World Cup without fans.
“It’s going to be hard for us to justify having a World Cup when we can’t get people into the grounds. So, I can’t see it happening in the near future,” he Maxwell.
A T20 World Cup without fans is technically possible, but at what cost would it come for players? What about those close to retirement, like AB de Villers? He would miss out on the appreciation from the fans.
Further, a postponement of the tournament would cause only more uncertainty. If the tournament were to be postponed, when could it be played? The next T20 World Cup is scheduled for India next year. Will that have be pushed back for this year’s World Cup, and when would that in turn be able to be played? These are questions the ICC and Cricket Australia will need to answer soon. Other sporting codes need to have an idea, and they’re all hungrier than ever to play in any as soon as possible.
But let’s get back to the topic: without fans it would be impossible to have a World Cup final similar to the one we had last year. Without fans it would just be plain weird. Yet having spectators at matches would go against what the authorities are telling us. Sports stars and fans are not immune to the virus.
This tournament is a jewel for the ICC, with the TV rights reportedly worth US$2 billion and millions of dollars more for Australia as a host nation. It could help the tourism industry, but Australia and the ICC will not reap rewards without fans.
Border also said that if the tournament went ahead without fans, the only would benefit would be to TV, which isn’t right. The men’s T20 World Cup was scheduled to start 18 October and run until 15 November. Only time will tell if the ICC can pull this off. What feat it would be!
Timmuh
Roar Guru
You can do that in the ground, maybe at the gates. Particularly if there is no general admission so its all allocated seating. It is harder on trains and, to a lesser extent, in the car parks. People naturally space out arrival times a little, but depart all at once. At least for T20 its only a couple of hours. If necessary food/drink stalls can be kept closed. Certainly allowing alcohol seems like a bad idea. But so muchis unknown. Australia might be practicalyy clear by then, or a second or third wave might be hitting. There might be a disinfectant injection treatment widely available, being sarcastic there, or even an actual treatment. CA and ICC have to plan for it going ahead, but also have contingency plans ranging from “one city”, or “no crowds” to deciding what date to call it off of necessary.
Paul
Roar Guru
As you say, it's still a big unknown, but as each day passes, more and more countries are relaxing restrictions, making it more likely people from the places you named will be allowed into Australia. The real issue will be what level of health checks & possible quarantines they have to face. Hopefully by then simple screening and reasonable social distancing measures will be all that's needed.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Are players and staff from India, Bangladesh, England, going to be allowed into the country by October? And have crowds return? A month ago, it looked like not a chance. Now, who knows. What will certainly not happen is a postponement. Its ridiculous enough having one WC in 2020 and another in 2021, two in 2021 would be pushing even the standards of the ICC. Either play it, crowds or not, or cancel it. And, really, without crowds, why bother.
peter ostle
Guest
For the ICC it will be how much they gain from the TV versus how much they will lose from crowd sales etc. The latter will hit Australia more than the ICC. Similar to soccer at the top level most of the money is from TV, not the crowds. Thus to the ICC it may be more beneficial to play the tournament than postpone/cancel it. The tournament may make a smaller profit, or have a smaller loss than cancelling or postponing it. As to the players it will be different to play in large stadiums with few spectators in a one day game, some will associate with the long form of cricket crowds at dead rubber moments. However, they will get paid. One problem for players from outside Australia will be the procedures they have to go through to get into Australia, travelling around Australia, then getting back home. Another will be how much cricket, in any form and level, they will have played prior to the tournament starting. Even if crowds are allowed but with social distance rules lessening the numbers will lead to issues. Will fans not congregate in one area, will they not 'high five' etc, the moment of joy/despair will overwhelm the 'keep your distance rule'.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Agree Paul, can presumably be done with social distancing and sparser crowds by then.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Good questions. I would have thought that, assuming the epidemic is kept under control and other businesses are getting back to normal, one solution will be to have crowds, but spaced out for social distancing. Eg Only certain seats sold with gaps in between and no one directly in front. Or only using every second row, and gaps in between people, unless it’s two people buying a seat together. Some cinemas around the world already making similar arrangements. This might be tricky to organise, but surely better than nothing. One third full is still a fair crowd on most Australian grounds. Another question might be quarantine from countries that are still in pandemic mode. Might need to be supplemented or replaced by lots of testing.
Paul
Roar Guru
"T20 World Cup without fans is becoming a distinct possibility in this current climate of pandemic." I'm not sure why you think this will be the case, Patrick? In early may, the PMs of Australia and New Zealand are talking about "travel bubbles", the NRL will be starting in a few weeks and they hope to have spectators to their GF and State Of Origin games in October/November so why wouldn't cricket look to do the same? I agree crowd numbers will probably be well down, given the likelihood of enforced social distancing, but I'm far more optimistic about people coming to games than you appear to be. I also think Australia has a far better chance of hosting this tournament with crowds than India does next year. The virus threat over there is far more than here, simply because of the population size.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Nice read. good to see quite a few new authors joining the roar recently.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
There's another one next year? What's the point holding it in front of empty stands then? Just cancel it and wait 12 months for the next one.