IPL 2021 likely to resume in UAE

Recent reports stated that BCCI is in plans to conduct the remaining season of IPL 2021 in September-October in the UAE. The announcement could be made official after the Special General Meeting scheduleld on May 29.

IPL 2021 – which was the 14th edition of the marquee tournament was postponed as COVID-19 breached the bio bubble. The resumption of tournament is likely to take place some where between September 16-20 to October 9-10. The ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place on October 18. Sources told that Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), the host organizer of the ICC tournament, has given assurances to the BCCI and agreed to make flexible provisions for the IPL scheduling.

The risk with the restart and the dates is the requirement by the ICC to take over the grounds ten days before the start of the tournament The plan by ECB is to schedule the matches in a transitive manner at the three available venues – Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. It will ensure that the league is concentrated at one venue for the final few days and the other two venues can be handed over to the ICC.

Given the time crux in a tight window of 22-23 days, the BCCI is understood to be planning for multiple double-headers. Given the hot conditions, they could be scheduled at the end of September and the beginning of October. There could be 10 double headers, 7 single headers and 4 playoffs, which will be fit into the 21-day window before the ICC T20 World Cup.

A total of 29 league matches took place before the halt in IPL 2021. A remaining of 27 leagues matches followed by playoffs are yet to be played. A total of 33 matches will take place after the resumption likely at UAE.

Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings played 8 matches each while the other teams have played 7 matches each. Capitals are currently at the No.1 position in the points table with 12 points with CSK at No.2 with the best net run rate among all teams in IPL 2021. A win in their next match will put CSK back on top.

Availability of foreign players is another concern for the BCCI and the eight franchises. The West Indies players are expected to come (the CPL gets over on September 19) and so are the South Africans, but it gets sticky when you look at factors other than the cricket calendar. A Steve Smith, for instance, may not be too excited to turn up for a fee or INR 1 crore (he was bought for INR 2.2 crore by Delhi) while a Pat Cummins (bought INR 15.50 crore by KKR) or a Glenn Maxwell (bought INR 14.25 crore by RCB) may make themselves available because they could lose INR 7-8 crores each if they don’t play the second half of the league.

While the overseas player situation will be clearer in the months to come, BCCI’s top priority will remain staging the remainder of the league, failing which will mean huge financial losses.