'Too risky': Ian Chappell casts doubt over T20 World Cup

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell believes the upcoming T20 World Cup is too risky to go ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Australia will host the T20 World Cup, the only major tournament they are yet to win, in October-November provided the event is not postponed or cancelled because of COVID-19.

But with Australia finally in a better position after weeks of restrictions that have flattened the infection rate, Chappell believes going ahead with the World Cup could be detrimental to all the hard work that's been achieved in combatting the outbreak.

"Not in October, I can't see it," Chappell told 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.

"When you're talking another 15 teams coming into Australia, I think that would just be too risky.

"Having gone through and done all the hard work getting into a really good position health-wise with COVID-19, I think it'd just be too risky to take that chance and set things back again."

Earlier today, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns suggested his panel could almost name Australia's 15-man squad for World Cup this week if needed, having been suitably impressed with their four consecutive T20 series wins.

"The last one or two positions always give us a headache normally. Particularly when you've got a settled line-up that has performed very well over the last 12 months," Hohns told reporters.

"We'd be very close (to finalising a squad). If we had to, we could probably just about nominate it now."

- with AAP