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The T20 World Cup scheduled for India later this year has been moved to the United Arab Emirates and Oman due to the pandemic affecting initial hosts India.
The International Cricket Council has moved the T20 World Cup from India to the United Arab Emirates and Oman because of the pandemic.
"The venue for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 has been shifted to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, with the tournament set to run from October 17 to November 14," a statement from the International Cricket Council read.
"The tournament was originally set to be staged in India, but had to be shifted, given the consequences of the second wave of COVID-19 on the country.
"The BCCI will remain the hosts of the event, which will now be held across four venues - Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground."
The first round of the tournament will see Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Oman and Papua New Guinea contest four places in the Super 12 stage, when the top eight ranked nations will enter.
Acting ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said their priority was to deliver a safe tournament in full.
"Whilst we are incredibly disappointed not to be hosting the event in India, the decision gives us the certainty we need to stage the event in a country that is a proven international host of multi-team events in a biosecure environment."
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is president of the BCCI, said the BCCI were lookng forward to hosting the tournament in UAE and Oman.
"We would have been happier hosting it in India but considering the uncertainty due to the COVID-19 situation and the importance of a world championship, the BCCI will now continue to host this tournament in UAE and Oman.
"The BCCI is looking forward to creating a spectacle."
The West Indies are the defending world champions after beating England in 2016.
Surprisingly Australia have never won the tournament - the best finish being a second-place finish in 2010 after going down to England.
