The competition had initially been scheduled to take place from November 8 to 21 this year in Kuwait.

World Bowling had postponed the event until March 2021 due to COVID-19. 

The governing body has now decided to further postpone competition to October 2021, which will allow qualifying events and aid preparations.

"Given the continuous changing climate around the coronavirus, worldwide travel restrictions that remain in place and with the ultimate the health and safety of athletes, officials and organisers in mind, World Bowling and QubicaAMF have decided to further postpone the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup," Andrew Oram, the World Bowling chief executive, said. 

"We remain committed to taking a responsible approach to enable athletes, hosts and organisers enough time to prepare for these events, including the necessary local qualifying events.

"We feel that an October 2021 timeframe will allow for safe planning and execution which now is not feasible."

The tournament will be the first since the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup and the World Bowling Singles World Championships were merged earlier this year.

The decision came as part of an extended partnership with QubicaAMF Worldwide, the largest bowling products company in the world.

"QubicaAMF is committed to the sport of bowling," said Emanuele Govoni, the QubicaAMF chief executive.

"In 56 years hosting this tournament, this is the first year that we have been forced to postpone the annual event.

"However, with the current status of the pandemic we feel that this is unavoidable.

"Our goal is to allow hosts to organise qualifying events in a safe environment, open to as many athletes as possible so we can ultimately host a safe and successful Bowling World Cup for as many athletes as possible from around the world next October."

World Bowling revealed it has established an Event Portfolio Working Group, which will examine possible dates for events once the pandemic subsides.

The inaugural Para Bowling World Cup will also be postponed.

The event is planned to take place in Kuwait in May 2021, which the governing body claim will help avoid the congestion of the events being rescheduled in the latter part of the year.