BCCI planning to host IPL 2020 from September 26 to November 8; Broadcaster unhappy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly finalized a tentative schedule for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). The board is hoping to organize the tournament from September 26 to November 8 this year. Also, there are chances that the league would be hosted by UAE this year owing to the rise in coronavirus cases in India.

IPL was scheduled to start on March 29, 2020, with the inaugural match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. However, the cash-rich league was suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in India. BCCI is planning to host the tournament later this year as the T20 World Cup 2020 will probably be postponed to next year.

The window came up for discussion “informally” during the BCCI Apex Council meet on Friday and if finalized, it will mean the board will have to conduct 60 matches in 44 days. However, the broadcasters are not happy with this schedule of the Indian Premier League. Broadcaster Star India and the franchises want BCCI to extend the schedule by one week to cash the Diwali weekend.

Diwali is on November 14 (Saturday) and Star wants to conclude that weekend as it would be good for the business purpose. Moreover, the ‘constricted schedule’ will lead to more afternoon matches which will affect the visibility and ratings. Star bought the IPL broadcast rights for five years with the consolidated bid of Rs. 16,347 crore i.e it pays BCCI Rs. 3500 to Rs. 4000 crore every year.

BCCI is not keen on extending the IPL schedule

The cricket Board is not enthusiastic about extending the league by a week due to its commitment with Cricket Australia (CA). India is expected to tour Australia for a four-match Test series and a three-match ODI series in the month of December and January. The Test series would start from December 4 and the team would have to reach Australia well before time to follow all the health guidelines.

” If the IPL concludes by November 8, the team can fly to Australia by the 10th, undergo the mandatory Covid tests and start with practice and warm-up matches so that the first Test can begin as scheduled. Also, India might want to play a day-night warm-up game ahead of the proposed day-night Test, and that will add days to the schedule,” a senior BCCI official told The Times of India