An ongoing tax issue has put India’s hosting rights in doubt and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned towards Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as alternative sites for the 2021 ICC Champions Trophy and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Is the BCCI at fault?
The BCCI is not at fault but the issue lies with the Indian Government’s stance of not approving a tax exemption to the ICC. If they decide to go ahead, the ICC may lose up to $100 million.
Despite granting a tax exemption for the Champions Trophy held in 2006 and the World Cup held in 2011, the UPA government abstained from doing the same for the ICC World T20 in 2016.
The 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India, from 9 February to 26 March 2023.
The tournament is five years away but the ICC is keen on making a decision in the near future as preparations take a long time.
“The Board expressed their concern around the absence of a tax exemption from the Indian Government for ICC events held in India despite ongoing efforts from both the ICC and BCCI to secure the exemption which is standard practice for major sporting events around the world,” the ICC said in a media release, after aboard meeting in Dubai.
“The Board agreed that ICC management, supported by the BCCI will continue the dialogue with the Indian Government but in the meantime directed ICC management to explore alternative host countries in a similar time zone for the ICC Champions Trophy 2021.”
With over five well equipped international stadiums, the island nation will be favored to take over if India fails to win hosting rights. However, the BCCI has not given up just yet.
“The BCCI is a party to tax exemption decisions and hence it’s bound by it. The BCCI did not get the exemption for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup held in India. BCCI and ICC officials have shown documents from countries that gave tax exemption for ICC events to Arun Jaitley (Union Finance Minister). The ICC members believe that they should not lose money,” a source close to the BCCI told Sportstar.
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