New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling two start dates for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
As per news agency PTI, some franchise owners want the tournament to start from March 27, while a few other influential people want a April 2 kickoff, which conforms to the Lodha Committee ruling.
"Some of the owners prefer March 27 start but India play their last international game against Sri Lanka, a T20I at Lucknow on March 18, and then you need a 14-day gap as per Lodha rule which is why April 2 could be the start date," a senior BCCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
It is also learnt that the BCCI wants IPL 2022 to be held in India without crowds, with Mumbai and Pune being the two preferred cities.
However, India is currently battling the third wave of Coronavirus and if situation worsens, United Arab Emirates and South Africa have reportedly been selected as backup options for hosting IPL 2022.
As per agency ANI, the tournament matches will be held at three stadiums in Mumbai - Wankhede, DY Patil (Navi Mumbai) and Brabourne Stadium (CCI) and if needed, some matches can also be organized in Pune.
Last year, BCCI had organized IPL 2021 in India itself but then due to the second wave of Covid-19, positive cases started reporting inside the bio-bubble and then the tournament had to be postponed only after 29 matches. Later in the year's September-October window, the tournament was completed in UAE.