The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at all the possible options including playing in empty stadiums to host Indian Premier League, said President Sourav Ganguly. If things go as per the plan, UAE is likely to host IPL 2020 in the October-November window.
Meanwhile, the 13th season of the T20 blitz was scheduled to commence from March 29. However, BCCI had to postpone it to April 14 after the first lockdown. BCCI had to postpone it further with no signs of the COVID-19 curve flattening.
IPL 2020 to take place in UAE?
However, they didn’t rule out the tournament from taking place. Speculations are going that BCCI is aiming to host the tournament during the September-October window in place of the ICC T20 World Cup. Cricket Australia has admitted that they are not in a stage to host the global tournament which has opened the doors for IPL 2020.
Amid all these, the Emirates Cricket Board has also offered to host IPL 2020 in UAE. Considering all prospects, BCCI believes hosting the tournament in three stadiums in close proximity there makes this the best option for all the stakeholders. Currently, the BCCI office-bearers are waiting for ICC to deliver on the future of the T20 World Cup.
“UAE is a viable option because you need bio-secure stay. Ideally, a place where no outsider is allowed will be needed and in UAE, you can get that provided two or three teams occupy a hotel.
Since the IPL will have players from all countries, the best safety measures are needed, which includes less travel. That’s why UAE ticks all the boxes. Plus, its past history of hosting the tournament will also be helpful,” a highly-placed source in the BCCI told The New Indian Express.
