The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, has dispelled rumors of the Indian Premier League (IPL) being relocated overseas. Amidst speculation that a portion of the lucrative T20 tournament might be moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to India’s General Elections, Shah clarified in an interview that the IPL will remain in India. This assurance followed the announcement of the General Election dates, prompting Shah to affirm that there would be no relocation.
Chairman’s Reiteration of IPL Location
Chairman of the IPL, Arun Dhumal, echoed Shah’s statement, rejecting any possibility of shifting the league to the UAE during the upcoming general elections scheduled between April 19 and June 1. Despite widespread rumors circulating on social media and reports of players allegedly being asked to surrender their passports to their respective franchises, Dhumal asserted that the IPL would proceed as planned in India.
Dismissal of Relocation Speculation by IPL Chairman
Addressing the speculation directly, Dhumal emphasized, “The IPL is not being shifted anywhere. We will soon announce the remaining fixture.” The initial schedule for the first two weeks has already been released, with the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, set to face Royal Challengers Bangalore at home on March 22.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah had previously affirmed to PTI that the entire tournament would be held in India, drawing parallels to 2019 when the IPL coincided with the previous Lok Sabha election. Shah clarified that they were awaiting the Election Commission’s announcement of poll dates before finalizing the IPL schedule.
Notably, the IPL had been moved out of the country during the 2014 general elections under the UPA government. During that time, the tournament’s first phase took place in the UAE before returning to India for the second phase. However, in contrast to the 2014 scenario, Shah’s recent confirmation assures fans and stakeholders that the IPL will remain firmly rooted in India for the entirety of the tournament, mirroring the successful hosting of the 2019 editiond espite the electoral backdrop.
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