UAE Likely To Host IPL 2020 In September-November Window, ICC T20 Might Get Cancelled: Report

A report which came out in Outlook stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering hosting the tournament in the September-November window and the franchise owners of the eight teams have also given the board the green signal for hosting the premier T20 league overseas.

Photo: @IPL (Twitter)

Amidst growing speculations on what future lies ahead for the indefinitely suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Covid-19 pandemic still persistent, a recent media report threw a hint of sorts over the high profile T20 being staged outside India in the United Arab Emirates. A report which came out in Outlook stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering hosting the tournament in the September-November window and the franchise owners of the eight teams have also given the board the green signal for hosting the league overseas. However, an official announcement from the Indian cricket board is still awaited. The Outlook report also claimed that the ICC T20 World Cup, which is also slated to be held at the same time in Australia, is likely to be cancelled by the International Cricket Council soon. Although the ICC is yet to make an official announcement on the subject, Cricket Australia's chairman had said that hosting the T20 World Cup in Australia this year is unrealistic. "While it hasn't been formally called off this year, or postponed, trying to get 16 countries into Australia in the current world, where most countries are still going through COVID spiking, I think it's unrealistic, or it's going to be very, very difficult," Earl Eddings said. A major monetary loss is at stake for the Indian Cricket Board as the BCCI is staring at a massive loss of INR 4,000 crore if the cash-rich league gets cancelled. UAE has hosted the IPL before. In 2014, a portion of the IPL was held in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi because some 20 matches of the initial phase was clashing with the general elections. Given Coronavirus protocols, matches in the UAE will be held in front of empty stadiums. "That's not a problem. IPL is more made for TV and the gate receipts will not be as much even if the crowds come in," said a team owner. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had reteriated the Indian Board's stand over staging the IPL this year amid growing speculations that it might not get held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.