IPL 2020 set to start on September 19 in UAE

MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) will start on 19th September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the final slated on 8th November.

IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the decision and said the event’s Governing Council will meet next week to chalk out the final details and approve the schedule.

“The GC will meet shortly but we have finalised the schedule. It will run from September 19 to November 8. We expect government approval to come through. It is a full 51-day IPL,” Patel told an Indian news agency.

The IPL was given an opportunity after ICC decided to postpone the T20 World Cup in Australia scheduled October and November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patel said that the Standard Operating Procedures to combat the COVID-19 threat are being prepared and the BCCI will formally write to the Emirates Cricket Board.

“We are making the SOP and it will be ready in a few days. To allow crowd or not depends on the UAE government. Anyway, social distancing has to be maintained. We have left it for their government to decide on that. Will also be writing to the UAE board formally,” Patel said.

There are three grounds available in the UAE — Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah cricket ground. BCCI will rent the grounds of the ICC Academy for training of the teams.

As per the current health protocol in Dubai, there is no need for quarantine if people are carrying a negative COVID-19 test report, but could be required to undergo testing if they do have a report.

There was speculation that IPL will start from 26th September but the BCCI decided to advance it by a week to ensure that the Indian team’s tour of Australia is not affected.