India cricket board seeks government approval to host IPL in UAE

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) announced its move to seek government permission to stage this year’s Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates.

While disclosing this on Tuesday July 21, 2020, the league chief, Brijesh Patel, stated that the Cricket boards in UAE and Sri Lanka have offered to host the league considering the coronavirus situation in India.

Monday’s postponement of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, which had been scheduled to take place in Australia from October 18, has presented the BCCI with a new opportunity to stage the IPL, even if it has to be in another country due to the COVID-19 crisis in India.

“We are yet to finalise when it will begin, maybe sometime in September,” IPL governing council Chairman, Patel, said.

“Emirates Cricket Board made an offer to host it, but we require government permission to stage it in UAE… We’ll discuss the issue in the next governing council meeting in 7-10 days,” he added.

The BCCI has been looking for a new window in which to stage the lucrative league, which was postponed days before it was to begin in late March, and avoid a potential $536m loss in revenue.

The 2009 edition of the franchise-based league, which coincided with India’s elections, was held in South Africa, and the UAE hosted the early matches of the tournament five years later for the same reason.

“We have played there before, and they are familiar in organising international matches. They are well-equipped,” Patel said.