Oman and the UAE will host the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday, 29 June. The tournament starts on 17 October, and the final will be played on 14 November.
As many countries still struggle with Covid-19 cases, the UAE has emerged as a viable option for cricket tournaments. The second part of the suspended Pakistan Super League was completed in Abu Dhabi, while the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League will be played there as well..
Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are three venues with world-class infrastructure to host international matches. They will host the Super 12s. The first round will be played at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat.
Eight teams will be divided across two groups for the first round of the competition. The top two teams from each group will advance to Super 12s. These eight include Test-playing nations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Ireland along with Oman, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, and Papua New Guinea.
India, however, retained official hosting rights of the T20 World Cup. The BCCI will closely work with Oman Cricket and the Emirates Cricket Board to ensure a hassle-free tournament.