The England cricket team has reportedly expressed concerns about playing the 2026 World Cup in India due to the ongoing Nipah virus outbreak. Shortly after, Australia also signalled its worry, announcing that the deadly virus’s spread is being closely monitored.
Australia’s Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler, said the country is keeping a careful watch on the situation.
“At present, there is no advice to change protocols for sick passengers arriving in Australia. Protocols are already in place. However, we will monitor the situation closely,” Butler stated.
He added that authorities remain hopeful the virus will come under control.
Australia clarified that no immediate airport restrictions will be imposed on passengers returning from India, though screening has already begun in several Asian countries.
The potential reluctance of teams like England and Australia to play in India raises a major challenge for the ICC, which may face pressure to reconsider venues. Just days ago, Bangladesh was excluded from the World Cup after the ICC ruled that a venue change was not possible, replacing them with Scotland. Bangladesh had requested to play its matches against India in co-host Sri Lanka.
The ICC has since reiterated that venue changes are no longer feasible. However, with the Nipah virus outbreak causing fresh concerns, questions are emerging about whether some or all matches may need to be held in Sri Lanka instead.
