BCCI Looking At Bengaluru, Outer Chennai, Dubai And Colombo For Staging IPL, League Likely To Start From Sept 20

BCCI in consultation has agreed to provide a bio secure environment for all players and officials and hence are looking to make a central base in one of two hotels and travel by bus to the match venue to ensure maximum safety of players.

Indian Premier League (Image: Getty/AFP)

WANTED: "A place with four cricket grounds, complete with floodlights, within or in immediate vicinity. It should have several five star hotels and should fall in the non- monsoon zone during September to November period. Any place with little or no reported Covid cases will be preferred.". This is how BCCI president Sourav Ganguly would like to advertise as his team sets forth to find a suitable venue to hold the IPL. So far, it was only about getting a window and the dates. It is now near certain that IPL will begin around September 20 and go on till November 10 this year but it is the choice of venues that is bothering the BCCI. The board in consultation has agreed to provide a bio secure environment for all players and officials and hence are looking to make a central base in one of two hotels and travel by bus to the match venue to ensure maximum safety of players. Since there are no crowds in attendance, the basic requirement of floodlight is sufficient. However, given the Corona case scenario in various part along with monsoon and availability of minimum three grounds, the BCCI is left with just four major options -- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Dubai and Colombo. Andhra Pradesh is also the dark horse in the race to host IPL games. Benguluru along with Mysuru and Alur has four grounds with floodlights at its disposal and are within one or two hour of travel by road. It has already hosted KPL matches and hence well tested. To hold 4 pm games in Benguluru weather is also not a big challenge. Despite Chennai being a Covid hub, other districts of Tamil Nadu has several grounds with floodlights and has hosted several TNPL games along with Ranji Trophy matches -- each within motorable distance. Both KPL and TNPL are shown by Star, also the broadcaster for IPL and hence logistical issues will be minimal. The BCCI, meanwhile is also exploring the overseas option with Colombo being an overwhelming favourite, with three international stadiums in the same city, along with three other international stadiums within a hour distance. Despite, the UAE also keen on hosting the IPL, the BCCI is keen towards Sri Lanka as it will also settle board's obligation for a tour from Team India that was scheduled in June and had to be cancelled. Dubai has already hosted the IPL so there is little to worry for the BCCI but the board is keen to make their best effort in holding the tournament within India itself-- given the push from the Indian government for boosting its own economy. While Mumbai would have been an automatic choice as per conditions, given the rising cases of the pandemic, the business capital of India is completely ruled out. Also the monsoon in western India is very unpredictable.