The T20 World Cup 2021 will be held from October 17 to November 14 in UAE and Oman, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Tuesday.

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will be staged in the UAE and Oman due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in India,” the ICC said in its official release. The tournament, which was originally set to be staged in India, will now be played in four venues — Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will remain hosts of the marquee event, the ICC confirmed.

“Our priority is to deliver the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 safely, in full and in its current window. 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 bio-secure environment,” ICC acting CEO Geoff Allardyce was quoted as saying in the release.

“The BCCI is looking forward to hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 tournament in UAE and Oman,” BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said. “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,” he added.

The UAE hosted the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and will also host the remainder of IPL 2021, which was suspended after a surge of COVID cases in the tournament’s bio-bubble.