Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in UAE has offered to play host to the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) if the BCCI decides to shift the cash-rich event out of the country in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
See Also: BCCI’s decision-makers not on the same page over hosting rights of IPL 13
The IPL 2020, which was initially slated to start on March 29, remains suspended “until further notice” owing to the deadly outbreak.
"In the past, Emirates Cricket Board has successfully hosted IPL matches in UAE. We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past," its general secretary Mubashir Usmani was quoted as saying by Gulf News.
"Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities make the Emirates a desired place for hosting all types of cricket," he added.
In 2014, UAE hosted the first 20 games of the IPL in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah after the one-third of the tournament's league phase had to be shifted to the Middle-East because of the general elections in India.
Usmani further said the Emirates Cricket Board had also offered their venues to England and Wales Cricket Board to complete the English season.
"We have come forward and offered our venues to both England and India. We have also hosted matches involving England team on multiple occasions previously. If our offer is taken up by either of the Boards, then we will be pleased to facilitate hosting of their matches," he said.
There is speculation that the BCCI is eyeing October-November window for IPL 13 if the T20 World Cup, slated to be played in Australia from October 18 to November 15, gets postponed due to Coronavirus.
A clearer picture about the window for IPL may emerge if the ICC takes a decision on the fate of this year's T20 World Cup during its board meeting through video conference on June 10.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is the other board which has expressed interest in hosting the IPL if India decides to organise it outside the country.
(With PTI inputs)
