As per reports in ESPN Cricinfo, a few of the England counties have expressed interest in hosting the remainder of IPL 2021. The season was suspended midway by the BCCI after players from two different franchises tested COVID positive. meanwhile, the BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has confirmed that the season is suspended temporarily due to the coronavirus outbreak and will be completed.
The MCC, Surrey, Warwickshire and Lancashire, who are based at Lord’s, The Kia Oval (both London), Edgbaston (Birmingham) and Emirates Old Trafford (Manchester) respectively are understood to be part of the group who wrote to the ECB inviting them to extend the opportunity to the BCCI. The plans would see the tournament completed in around two weeks in the second half of September. More on the same will be discussed later today in ICC’s meeting.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, meeting when the tournament was suspended midway, the BCCI did not keep England within its options in the meeting. Meanwhile, in another development, the UAE seems to the frontrunner among the options that BCCI has to host the remaining matches. There might be two to three games played each day with no gaps in between the league stage and the playoffs leading to the final.
Also Read: BCCI Mulling Over Three Venues To Host The Remaining IPL 2021
England Counties Interested in Hosting Remainder Of IPL 2021
Meanwhile, the above-mentioned counties in England are hoping to host the game to full house crowds if the BCCI does shift the remainder of the season to the UK. However, nothing is confirmed as yet and the BCCI is still hopeful of things getting better in India with almost four months to go for the September window, including the month of May.
There are a few logistical problems if the BCCI does think of hosting the remainder of IPL 2021 in the UK. First, there would be several quarantine issues in bringing players from around the world into the UK, although a number of Indian players being in the UK at the time for their Test series with England could be helpful.
The other obstacle to hosting the remainder of IPL 2021 in England countries is existing schedule.The England-India Test series only ends in Manchester on September 14, with England then expected in Pakistan for T20Is less than a month later. Most other sides have international commitments around the same time, with potential quarantine time to be factored in – though those final weeks in September remain less busy than most.
For now the BCCI has a lot on its plate to ponder over and finally decide on the safest optio keeping the impact of COVID-19 in mind.
Also Read: IPL 2021: Australian Contingent Moved To Maldives From India
