There’s been a great deal of anticipation surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the T20 World Cup to 2021 and it looks like the marquee tournament is coming to the UAE, hosting all the 60 fixtures in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Global cricket came to a standstill in March due to the viral outbreak of Coronavirus postponing an extensive line-up of tournaments, tours, the long-awaited Men’s T20 World Cup and the 13th edition of IPL.
Photograph credit: IPL
A lot were on stakes at this year’s IPL, with many eagerly waiting for MS Dhoni’s comeback after the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final versus New Zealand, an opportunity for a lot of players to perform and catch selectors’ eyeballs for the T20 World Cup and an IPL debut for many fast-rising cricketers.
Photograph credit: IPL
Not to mention the entertainment factor, millions of avid cricket fans and viewers tune into the IPL for two months of high-octane cricket.
IPL in talks with the UAE to host 13th edition
Brijesh Patel, the IPL’s Governing Council chairman has been all over sports headlines after tipping ESPNcricinfo about confirming the tournament will take place in the UAE. He says the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) were waiting for the ICC to make a formal announcement on the T20 World Cup’s postponement from October 2020 to October 2021, to start scheduling this year’s IPL in the September-November window.
As of now, Patel says they’ve applied for a permission with the Indian Government. The cricketing body will host a formal meeting to announce the tournament’s schedule and details.
Photograph credit: IPL
IPL 2020 seating “depends on the UAE government”
While IPL coming to the UAE comes as great news for expatriates in the region, chances are the tournament might be played without spectators, but Patel says the decision entirely “depends on the UAE Government.”
The 2014 edition saw the UAE play host to one half of the tournament, with scores of residents and fans descending upon cricket stadiums to catch the impulsive cricketing action live. Not to mention the Emir of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the final fixture between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad!
Photograph credit: Dubai Media Office
Initial Indian media reports claimed the IPL was considering hosting the tournament in select-cities with limited spectators, notably Mumbai. However, given the state of the pandemic with rising cases especially in top-tier cities, the tournament was eyeing Sri Lanka and the UAE as potential nations to host the 2020 edition.
Asia Cup coming to the UAE in 2022
Meanwhile, a lot of cricket fans in the UAE were expecting an India vs Pakistan clash in the UAE with the Asia Cup initially scheduled for September 2020. However, recent meetings hosted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) concluded with Pakistan, this edition’s hosts, swapping hosting rights with Sri Lanka, with the upcoming tournament to be held in June 2021, followed by Pakistan as hosts in 2022.
Photograph credit: Asian Cricket Council
Read: THE UAE IS EYEING TO HOST ICC EVENTS THIS DECADE
Read: EXPO 2020 IS SPONSORING RAJASTHAN ROYALS THIS IPL
(Featured photograph credit: IPL)
