United Arab Emirates can host the Indian Premier League final for the second successive year. The BCCI is reportedly planning to host the second phase of the suspended IPL Season 14 in the UAE during a window in September and October.
A formal meeting is expected on May 29, when the Indian cricket board has called a special general meeting. The BCCI, host for the ICC T20 World Cup this year, is also expected to take the tournament to the UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The remaining 31 IPL games, according a Times of India report, can be played there before the World Cup.
India will be paying a five-Test series in England from on August 4. The board will reportedly try to shorten the duration of the England tour to create the desired window for the IPL. There is a nine-day gap between second and the third Test. The paper quoting sources has reported that “if that gap could be reduced to four (days), it will allow BCCI five extra days to make use of.”
The SGM will also decide on initiating talks with ECB to see if the 41-day Test series window can be tweaked. If it is decided to not to tamper with the England tour, the board will have 30 days to play 31 matches in the UAE between September 15 and October 15.
“If that gap can be reduced to four, it will allow BCCI five extra days to make use of. If we can have those extra days eked out from the India-England schedule, then it adds to the window. If not, then within these 30 days, a full day will have to be set aside for the Indian team and English cricketers to travel from the UK to the UAE, five days will have to be set aside for the knockouts later,” said a source.
“That will leave the BCCI with 24 days to conclude 27 matches. This window has four weekends available, which means a total of eight Saturdays and Sundays for doubleheaders that can accommodate 16 matches. That will leave the BCCI with 11 matches to be held in 19 days. That’s a week extra,” the source added.
As only four teams will be involved in the IPL playoffs, players from the other four teams can join their respective national teams for the World Cup, which in all likelihood is also going to be played in the UAE.
The BCCI has ruled out the IPL in India till the time Covid-19 threat prevails.
