BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal on Saturday (January 30) stated that the Indian board doesn't even feel the need to currently look at a back-up overseas venue for hosting the IPL 2021 with the COVID-19 situation improving in the country.
Speaking to PTI, Dhumal said the BCCI is confident that it would be able to conduct the 14th edition of the lucrative league at home unlike the last edition, which was staged in UAE due to the pandemic.
"We are working on having the IPL in India and we are hopeful that we would be able to organise it. We are not even thinking of a back up also at this point in time, we are wanting to do it here.
"India is probably safer than UAE at this point. Hopefully, the situation remains stable and keep improving and we will have it here," he quoted.
The BCCI will not be holding its premier first-class tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years as the governing body decided to stage the Vijay Hazare Trophy as per the wishes of majority of the state units.
The board will also conduct the U-19 National One Day tournament for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Women's national 50-over tournament this season.
"We took feedback from the players, selection committee, state associations. It was felt that 2020 is already gone and rather than having two Ranji events in the same calendar year, it is better to go for white-ball cricket.
"That way we could have something for junior cricket and women considering the importance of Women's World Cup and U-19 World Cup next year.
"Rather than having one tournament, we thought of having events in different categories," said Dhumal, adding that the board will devise a mechanism to take care of the Ranji cricketers financially.
With domestic cricket also being played in bio-secure bubbles, the treasurer said it is tough on the organisers as well as players, but that's the requirement until the cricketers are vaccinated.
"It is tough but at least this way we are getting to play. We are working on getting our players vaccinated.
"The government's directive is that frontline workers and the most vulnerable will be the first to get vaccinated, but we are in touch with the government to get our players vaccinated."
He also spoke on getting the crowds back to stadiums partially.
"We are reviewing the situation on a regular basis. We want the roar to be back in the stadiums but we have to work in tandem with the state and central government.
"We are very keen to have the crowds back. Surely, it won't be 100 percent capacity given the challenges, but we are looking at anywhere between 25-50 percent," Dhumal said.
(With PTI inputs)
