India's head coach Ravi Shastri thinks the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League in UAE will bring back a "chaos" of the "much-needed" kind amidst public about the sport in these troublesome times where the COVID-19 pandemic has only caused negativity through the global health crisis.
The IPL 2020 begins in the gulf on September 19 and runs till November 10. The T20 tournament will see eight teams lock horns in a double round-robin format before four of those qualify for the play-offs depending on their standings in the points table.
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"You know with this COVID thing happening, once this IPL starts in the UAE, you will see that chaos back again, which is much needed," Shastri said during webinar 'Arabian Sea Dialogue' organised by the Observer Research Foundation.
UAE has previously also hosted IPL in 2014. But back then, the need to play one-third part of the league in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi arised because of the Lok Sabha elections here.
This time, the reason is the pandemic which seems to be peaking in India. The current circumstances will pose greater challenges in terms of safely conducting the tournament across 51 days in the Middle East.
However, with the SOPs in place, all the planning around accommodation of teams, preparations to have them quarantine, training smoothly before on-field action and task forces employed to tackle any issue during the league, the BCCI seems well equipped.
Shastri termed the ongoing times "depressing" and said the IPL will prove a welcome distraction.
"It's been depressing, it's been unforeseen, the world hasn't seen anything like this since the Second World War, to just get some sports action, back on television, day in and day out will lift the spirits of a lot of people and it is much needed at this moment of time."
"So I think, it's going to be one helluva party and I am so happy that it's gone to the UAE, because they put up such a good show last time around."
"They know now what to expect when we come with the IPL and the eight teams and I think it's (IPL) going to be a runaway success COVID or no COVID," he added.
(Inputs from PTI)
