Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
IPL 2020 is likely to be played in the UAE, as the BCCI continues to work on all possible options to stage the tournament. The BCCI has tentatively locked in September 26-November 7 as the window for the tournament.
According to reports, the BCCI is awaiting final confirmation from the ICC that the T20 World Cup will be postponed. Also, the BCCI have written to the Indian government granting permission for the tournament to go ahead, should the World Cup be postponed.
All signs are pointing towards postponement, as Australia have reportedly been told to prepare for England, as well as the CA chairman previously stating that the World Cup is “unlikely” and “very, very difficult”.
On Friday, the BCCI’s Apex Council discussed the possibility of staging the entire tournament in the UAE. It is understood the BCCI’s preference is to hold some or all of the tournament in India, but given the COVID-19 situation, the UAE seems a safer option.
In April, the UAE wrote to the BCCI stating their willingness to host IPL 2020. “We are ready to fully support the IPL if it chooses to come and play in the UAE,” Mubashshir Usmani, ECB secretary, told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year.
“We will provide all the support concerning the protocol and government permission required to host the IPL. We are waiting for written confirmation from BCCI.”
Should the tournament go ahead in September, franchises will be required to arrive in the UAE at least a month in advance to get enough training and to cater for any quarantine measures implemented by the UAE government.
Also, November 7, the date of the Final, has been put in place so the Indian national team has enough time to travel to and prepare for the Test series in Australia, scheduled to begin on December 3. However, eyes are firmly on Melbourne and parts of Sydney, as south-east Australia is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 cases.
Also read:
- Australia told to prepare for England; no T20 World Cup – reports
- Will try our best to have IPL in 2020 – Ganguly
- Australia vs India Test series schedule