(UTV | Colombo) – England all-rounder Moeen Ali believes it would be the right decision for the launch of The Hundred to be postponed until 2021.
The England and Wales Cricket Board will meet on Wednesday and is expected to delay the new 100-ball competition because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It makes sense that way,” said Moeen.
“It is such a big deal for us in this country and we want it to be played when everything is right and there are no problems around the world.”
The ECB are expected to announce the decision made at their board meeting on Thursday.
The 100-ball competition, involving eight city-based teams in separate men’s and women’s tournaments, was due to begin on 17 July and end on 15 August.
At a meeting last week, the ECB opted to extend the shutdown on professional cricket in England and Wales until at least 1 July.
If and when the 2020 season gets under way, the governing body will look to schedule men’s and women’s internationals, as well as domestic first-class and limited-overs cricket, in the period from July to the end of September.
The Hundred was devised to attract a new audience to the game, utilising the wave of interest that followed England’s World Cup win of 2019.
However, it is looking increasingly likely the majority of any professional cricket played this summer would have to be behind closed doors.