The Australian government might make travel exemptions for the Indian team’s tour Down Under later this year to save the cricket board from losing a staggering 300 million Australian dollars in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
Cricket Australia is under huge financial pressure due to global lockdown and has laid off 80 percent of its staff. India’s four-Test tour in December-January could provide a relief to the struggling bldy
As of now, Australia’s borders are sealed till September 30 but their could be an extension of travel sanctions.
According to a report in ESPNCricinfo,”international exemptions to allow an India touring party to arrive in Australia next summer would be seriously considered by the federal government in the event of wider travel bans, strongly suggesting that Cricket Australia will be able to avoid losing up to A$ 300 million in revenue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.”
The website also reported that CA has received a positive response from its government.
“...The governing body is understood to have received highly encouraging news about their outlook, at least as far as the lucrative India tour is concerned,” the report stated.
Cricket Australia was expecting revenue of A$ 500 million from this financial cycle, primarily from broadcast rights. Even if spectators are not allowed and cricket becomes a TV only event, they happen to lose A$ 50 million.
But if India fail to tour, the repercussions will be of gigantic proportions.
“Such a scenario (only live TV coverage) would likely leave CA with a hole of around A$ 50 million in its annual revenue of nearly A$ 500 million, but nowhere near the sort of blow they could have expected without being able to welcome India for a series of Test and limited overs matches due to pull the organisation out of the low point of its four-year revenue cycle,” the report stated.
Meanwhile in other update a BCCI official said that a decision on that playing an extra Test during the scheduled tour can be taken at the right time and any planning at this stage would be too early in wake of pandemic.