The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held its apex council meeting via teleconference today on July 17. The IPL 2020 was a primary item on the 11-point agenda for the meeting.

The BCCI has more or less zeroed in on UAE as the venue for the IPL, given that it has already hosted the first part of IPL 2014. Another reason why UAE is seen as a frontrunner is the board expects the quarantine period to come down to a day or so during the window targeted for the IPL.

IPL 2020 might take place from September-November if ICC cancels the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia from October-November. IPL was suspended until further notice after it missed the April-May deadline due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, told India Today, that the board is keen on hosting the T20 tournament if the ICC decides to postpone the T20 World Cup.

IPL 2020: UAE keeping itself ready in case BCCI decides to move IPL 13

The BCCI is now targeting a shortened 5 to 6 week window for IPL 2020, but the ICC has postponed its call to July, as it wants to give the T20 World Cup a full chance of happening as it wants to take the right decision.

Apart from the reduced quarantine period, the BCCI also believes that the UAE, being a travel hub, is well connected. Medical facilities and previous experience of hosting the IPL may work in the UAE's favor.

BCCI also discussed places where Team India cricketers can have their practice camp. Dharamsala and Ahmedabad were discussed as two options where a bio-bubble can be created but then Dharamsala was ruled out because of lack of accommodation.

Ahmedabad now seems to be the place where training can happen if BCCI conducts a training camp for the players. It was said that Players cannot train at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) because of the existing situation with regards to Covid-19.

(India Today inputs)