IPL 2020: UAE offers to host the tournament; BCCI not in a state to decide anything

The Coronavirus pandemic has put a full stop to the cricketing action all over the world. It has severely affected the possibility of the Indian Premier League (IPL) going ahead this year. The tournament which was supposed to commence on March 29, has been suspended until further notice now. The BCCI has time and again stated that it is monitoring the situation and is not in a state to take any decision right now.

Various speculations are being made to host the IPL outside India even as the reports unfurled about Sri Lanka expressing its interest to host the tournament. While the BCCI official had refuted those reports, its treasurer Arun Dhumal has confirmed now that the UAE wants to play hosts to the T20 extravaganza. However, he also cleared that the board hasn’t taken a call on the same.

“The UAE has offered to host the IPL if we want them to. But right now when there is no international travel, there is no question of taking a call on that,” Arun Dhumal was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. He also stated that the health and security of the stakeholders and the players is of the utmost importance to the BCCI. He also pointed out that there is no international travel possible at the moment and they can’t decide anything as of now.

“The health and security of players and all participants is our priority. At the moment, the entire world travel has come to a standstill, so there is nothing we can decide at this stage,” he added.

UAE has hosted IPL in 2014

UAE is not new to hosting the IPL. The tournament was partially shifted to the country back in 2014 when the dates clashed with the elections in India. As many as 20 matches were played in the UAE after which the second phase of the competition was played in India.

South Africa is the only other country to host IPL in its 12-year history. In 2009, again due to the elections, the whole tournament was shifted to the rainbow nation and it received a great response.