BCCI to seek government clearance in the next two weeks for shifting IPL 2020 to UAE

The ICC, on Monday, announced the postponement of the T20 World Cup, which was slated to take place in Australia this year. The showpiece event being pushed further was a green signal for the BCCI to host the much-awaited IPL 2020 in the empty window of the T20 World Cup.

The thirteenth edition of the tournament was going to start from March 29 this year. However, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian board was left with no choice but to postpone the cash-rich league. But according to reports, the BCCI is now on an overdrive to stage the T20 extravaganza in the UAE, starting from the last week of September.

Cricket Australia (CA), amid the stern situation of COVID-19 debacle, wasn’t too keen to host the T20 World Cup anyway. However, BCCI was waiting for the ICC to make an official announcement regarding the postponement of the mega-event. After seeking clearances from the government, the Indian board is all set to shift the IPL to the UAE.

The first leg of IPL 2014 was played in the UAE

“Hopefully, in next couple of weeks (BCCI) will seek clearances from the government for the tournament (IPL) to be played in the UAE,” IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel told India Today.

“The UAE government offered us to host the IPL in their country and we are very much aware of the facilities and situation there. The IPL (first leg) was played there (UAE) in 2014 so we know what we are looking at,” he added.

The IPL governing council is expected to meet within a week to discuss and formalise further course of action with regards to staging the much-awaited league. Fans, as well as players, are eagerly waiting for the tournament to unfold as soon as possible. “Within a week the IPL governing council meeting will be held where the next plan of action is to be discussed,” said another BCCI official, who is part of the IPL governing Council.

The BCCI Apex Council had hosted a meeting last week and it was decided that a camp will be organized for the players at Ahmedabad’s Motera stadium. The players contracted with the BCCI are expected to be a part of the training back. As per reports, if everything goes well, the IPL is expected to begin on September 26 and continue until November 7 or 8, with 60 matches to be played amid this window.