Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has announced that the upcoming season is scheduled to commence on March 22, navigating around the 2024 Lok Sabha general elections.
Previous elections prompted adjustments in IPL planning, leading to matches being relocated overseas in 2009 and 2014. Additionally, during the 2019 elections, the schedule was revealed in two parts to accommodate the concurrent general elections.
BCCI officials remain firm on hosting the entire 2024 edition of the IPL in India, despite potential logistical challenges. Security is highlighted as a significant concern, mirroring the approach taken in 2019.
Similar to that year, the league plans to unveil the schedule in two parts, with the second half of fixtures released when the government confirms the dates for the general election.
“BCCI is planning to start IPL 2024 from March 22. IPL 2024 schedule will be announced in two halves. The schedule for the first half will be announced and then the schedule for the other half will be announced after the announcement of general election dates,” Arun Dhumal told ANI.
If the IPL kicks off on March 22, Indian players will experience a brief 10-day break after participating in the five-match Test series against England, which concludes on March 11.
It’s worth mentioning that the Women’s Premier League (WPL) second season is slated to occur from February 23 to March 17 in Delhi and Bangalore.
“We decided to hold off and disclose only the initial set of scheduled matches”- Arun Dhumal
As per Arun Dhumal, the schedule for the first 10 to 12 matches will be unveiled initially, and the rest will follow after the government specifies the states participating in elections on particular dates.
The league aims to avoid holding matches in states undergoing elections to prevent complications. While the 2019 edition commenced a bit earlier (March 23), the current situation involves additional considerations.
Initially, the rise in the number of matches is attributed to the league’s expansion to 10 teams. Additionally, the league must conclude promptly to allow players ample time to gear up for the 2024 T20 World Cup scheduled for June.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where we announce the full IPL schedule and then the security agency informs us that they won’t be available to provide security for the specific venue games,” Arun Dhumal told the Indian Express.
“It takes a lot of logistical challenges to change the venue at the last moment, lot of machinery work behind the scenes, and they need time to conduct each IPL game.”
“So we thought let’s wait and announce only the first few games scheduled. We will announce the complete schedule once we get a clear picture of which state will be holding elections on specific dates,” he added
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hold the title as defending champions, securing their fifth IPL championship with a victory in the 2023 edition.
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