Earlier this week, after the postponement of T20 World Cup by ICC owing to COVID-19, it was confirmed that the IPL 2020 will be held in UAE.
Now, IPL Governing Council Chairman, Brijesh Patel has confirmed that rescheduled IPL 2020 will be played from September 18 through November 8, pending government approval.
Earlier, several news reports, quoting various sources in BCCI, had said the Board had zeroed in on a 44-day window between September 26 and November 7 for the 60 match 13th edition of the IPL.
However, the board has now decided to advance the start date by a week in order to reduce the afternoon games.
The advancing of the schedule will also be good for India’s Tour of Australia. It will give the Indian team ample time to serve a 14-day mandatory quarantine as per the Australian government rules before the start of the first Test in Brisbane on December 1.
The IPL Governing Council is slated to meet next week to finalise the schedule and the final details of the 13th edition of the annual cricketing bonanza.
“The GC will meet shortly but we have finalised the schedule. It will run from September 19 to November 8. We expect the government approval to come through. It’s full 51 day IPL,”
Patel told PTI.
UAE to decide on crowd
Although cricket has returned, the prevailing COVID-19 has forced it to be played behind closed doors and follow other norms to prevent the spread of the contagion.
Patel confirmed that BCCI is preparing the norms for IPL 2020 and whether crowd would be allowed in the stadium or not would entirely depend on UAE.
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“We are making the SOP and it will be ready in a few days. To allow crowd or not depends on the UAE government. Anyway social distancing has to be maintained. We have left it to their government to decide on that. We will also be writing to the UAE board formally,”
Patel informed PTI.
According to reports, the BCCI has finalised three grounds in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sarjah for the 60 matches.
The Board intended to host IPL 2020 in India, even if held behind closed doors, but the rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases in the country has made it well-nigh-impossible for the board to host the tournament in the country.
