UAE confirms making offer to BCCI to host the IPL 2020

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is suspended until further notice due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The BCCI has adopted a wait and watch approach in this regard even as reportedly they are eyeing the October-November window to organise the cash-rich league replacing the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, there are also speculations that the board is ready to shift the tournament out of India if needed.

Amidst all the reports, the UAE Cricket Board has confirmed that it has offered the BCCI to host the IPL this year. The board’s general secretary Mubashshir Usmani pointed out that they have hosted the T20 league successfully previously. The first half of the IPL was played in the UAE in 2014 due to the general elections in India.

“In the past, Emirates Cricket Board has successfully hosted IPL matches in UAE. We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past. Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities make the Emirates a desired place for hosting all types of cricket,” he was quoted as saying by The Gulf.

UAE offered venues to England and India

Usmani also stated that the UAE has stood host for England before and also confirmed that if BCCI and ECB, either of the boards, accept their proposal, then they will be happy to help them. “We have come forward and offered our venues to both England and India. We have also hosted matches involving England team on multiple occasions previously.

“If our offer is taken up by either of the Boards, then we will be pleased to facilitate the hosting of their matches,” he further added. Earlier, it was also reported that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had also offered to host the IPL only for the BCCI official to reject the claims.

The fate of the IPL 2020 depends on the ICC’s decision on the T20 World Cup. The meeting is set to take place on June 10 when the final decision will be taken on the mega event.