The women's 50-over Cricket World Cup that was scheduled to be held in New Zealand in February-March next year has been postponed to 2022 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrea Nelson Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
ICC Women's World Cup 2021 CEO Andrea Nelson has backed the decision.
"What we're all about is staging the best possible world cup and when you look at the situation around the world and the ability for teams to qualify and train and compete in what has to be their pinnacle event, delaying it a year just makes sense to have the best possible product," Nelson said.
"We're dealing with a pretty unprecedented global time but it is the right thing for cricket."
Nelson plans to meet with her organising team next week to work out what implications the 12-month postponement will have.
"There are hundreds of people around the country that have been working on this and we'll be talking to them all over the coming days about what this means and how we go forward.
"We'll be meeting on Monday and working through the detail of the implications, but there's been a lot of really great work done by the team and that work will not be lost.
"We'll be a fantastic position to build on and do an even better event a year later."
The White Ferns celebrate a wicket. Photo: Photosport
The tournament will now fall in between the 2021 Rugby World Cup and 2023 FIFA World Cup, meaning New Zealand's now hosting three global women's events in three years.
"Three women's world cups in three years in New Zealand is going to something special. I think it'll change the way New Zealand and women's sport's perceived and it's exciting to be able to be part of that."
The International Cricket Council has also announced Australia will host this year's postponed men's Twenty20 World Cup in 2022, with India retaining their tournament next year.
"We now have absolute clarity on the future of ICC events, enabling all of our members to focus on the rescheduling of lost international and domestic cricket," ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said.
"We will now proceed as planned with the men's T20 World Cup 2021 in India and host the 2022 edition in Australia."
Before the pandemic disrupted the game's calendar, Australia were scheduled to host this year's tournament in October-November followed by the 2021 edition in India, who will also host the 50-overs World Cup in 2023.
In its board meeting last month, the ICC deferred the tournament in Australia keeping in mind the logistical challenges involved in staging a 16-team tournament amid existing travel and other restrictions.
The Indian cricket board, according to media reports, were reluctant to sacrifice the 2021 slot for Australia and host back-to-back World Cups in 2022 and 2023.
- Reuters/RNZ