The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (May 4) decided to postpone the 2021 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) with immediate effect.
The decision came after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported in the bio-secure bubble of various franchises.
Two days after this development, four premier English counties — Middlesex, Surrey, Warwickshire and Lancashire — have expressed interest in hosting the remaining games of the IPL 14.
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With India anticipating a third wave of the pandemic later this year, BCCI is looking at a window in September after the conclusion of India’s England tour to complete the cash-rich event.
Team India are scheduled to play five Tests against England from August 4 to September 14.
As per a report published in ESPNcricinfo, Lord’s, Oval (both London), Edgbaston (Birmingham) and Emirates Old Trafford (Manchester) are understood to be part of the group who wrote to the ECB expressing their interest.
“The plans would see the tournament completed in around two weeks in the second half of September,” according to the report.
The IPL 2021 season saw only 29 games being held in four venues – Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Delhi – and there are 31 matches still left to be played.
In a bid to complete the tournament, the BCCI is exploring a 20-day window with multiple double-headers.
Considering the COVID-19 situation in India, ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is likely to be moved to UAE.
If both IPL and T20 World Cup 2021 are staged in the Middle East, the pitches might get slow during the second half of the global tournament. Therefore, England would be a better option to host the remaining IPL games.
However, there are some challenges for the BCCI sort out as well. When India’s tour of England ends on September 14, approximately 30 Indian cricketers will be there but flying others would be a difficult task, bearing in mind the quarantine regulations.
The BCCI will reportedly lose Rs 2000 to 2500 crore in case the IPL 2021 is not completed.
(With PTI inputs)
