Reports: BCCI to conduct meeting with IPL team owners to discuss alternate plans amid COVID-19 concerns

As per the latest development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling calling a meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners next month to discuss several things regarding the 2022 edition of the gala tournament. One of the primary purposes of the meeting would be discussing Plan B for IPL 2022. Notably, the COVID-19 virus has had a severe impact in Indian cricket.

While IPL 2020 entirely took place in UAE, the second half of the 2021 event was shifted to the gulf nation amid the COVID-19 concerns. As the country is witnessing a rapid increase in the number of Omicron cases lately, BCCI is reportedly worried about the COVID-driven health hazards across the nation during the T20 competition.

IPL 2022 is likely to get underway on April 2

While BCCI is likely to discuss all the scenarios with the owners, the option of going back to UAE seems to be off the drawing board as of now. As per the current plan, IPL 2022 is likely to begin on April 2 with teams playing home and away fixtures. However, alternate plans will be introduced if COVID-19 issues again come in the picture.

“The meeting will be mainly introductory in nature with the BCCI on-boarding the owners of the two new teams – Lucknow and Ahmedabad. They are also exploring the idea of holding the whole tournament just in Mumbai and Pune or in the Gujarat cities of Ahmedabad, Baroda and Rajkot if the Covid/Omicron situation worsens,” multiple franchise officials were quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“The owners will be apprised of the alternatives as well as things to look forward to in the mega auction,” they added. Notably, IPL 2022 will be a grand affair as two new franchises, based in Lucknow and Ahmedabad respectively, have been included, making the competition a 10-team affair.

Moreover, a mega auction is also in schedule which would see many teams going under massive revamps. As per reports, BCCI is planning to conduct the bidding event in the second week of February, for two days between February 10-13. Kochi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi have been reportedly shortlisted as venues for the mega auction.