Due to the COVID-19 situation in India, the Twenty20 World Cup will be moved to the United Arab Emirates this year, the Cricket Board in India, BCCI, sources informed Reuters on Saturday.

Last year, the pandemic spread over the world's second-most populous country, causing a lengthy shutdown.

Infections have soared yet again this year as the country tries to contain a highly transmissible strain of the virus, jeopardizing plans to relax lockdown measures.

The Indian Premier League was forced to be suspended in May by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the local organizers of the 16-team league.

The remaining matches of the world's wealthiest T20 league were relocated to the United Arab Emirates, where they were also held last year, and will be completed in time for the World Cup, which will begin in mid-October.