The postponed edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be held in the UAE will begin on September 19, with the final to be played on November 8. IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the schedule on Friday, although the Indian board is still awaiting a green signal from the government for taking IPL out of India.
The stage is set for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the Men’s World T20 keeping the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in mind. Amid the speculations over the future of the 13th edition, IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel has confirmed the dates for the tournament.
Patel has confirmed that while the tournament will kick off on September 19, the final will be played on November 8. It has already been confirmed that the tournament will be played in UAE given the huge spike in the number of coronavirus cases in India.
“The fans will enjoy the full tournament from September 19 to November 8 and further course of action will be discussed with the franchises in the governing council meeting, ”Patel told.
Scheduling of the IPL 2020 edition, the training camp for players, and discussion over the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) are among the topics which will be discussed in the upcoming IPL Governing Council meeting.
On Thursday, a source within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told ANI that SOP for teams and bio bubble training facilities, shifting of the tournament, its schedule and format and training camp, travel, and stay will be discussed during IPL GC meeting.
Other matters to be discussed are operational aspects, DXB app to download for players and officials, and discussion on issues related to the broadcaster.
This year’s IPL was slated to commence from March 29 but the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier, IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed that the 13th edition of the league will be played in the UAE.
“The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per the Australian government rules. A delay would have sent the plans haywire,” a BCCI official said on conditions of anonymity.
“The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and broadcasters will be happy with a full seven-week window,” he added.
