The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is exploring every option to complete the suspended IPL 2021 this year but the governing body is yet to discuss offers from English counties to host the remaining games, reported Reuters on Friday (May 7).
The 14th edition of Indian Premier League was postponed indefinitely on Tuesday (May 4) after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported in the bio-bubble of various franchises.
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Subsequently, four premier English counties — Middlesex, Surrey, Warwickshire and Lancashire —expressed interest in hosting the remaining games of the IPL 2021, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo.
Last month, London Mayor Sadiq Khan also opened up about his plan to bring the cash-rich tournament to the capital.
"We will explore all the options and see when it's feasible to play those matches and take a call at the right time," BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters via telephone.
"Their offer has not been discussed yet. It's too early."
"Right now, our immediate plan is finalise the preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup in India later this year."
Dhumal said the interest to hold IPL matches shows the popularity of the T20 league abroad.
"IPL is huge, and everybody wants to host IPL matches. It has a massive fan following even outside India."
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 looking at a 20-day window with multiple double-headers and it could be held in September after the conclusion of India’s England tour.
IPL franchise RCB posted a video on their Twitter account on Friday, in which chairman Anand Kripalu told the players the BCCI had "indicated" the tournament would resume in September.
"We trust the BCCI will obviously gather as much information as they can when looking at that window around September and obviously keep us all informed," RCB’s Director of Cricket Operation Mike Hesson said in that video.
"We'll be part of the decision-making process as well, just to make sure that when it's rescheduled, the players and everybody involved are in a safe environment."
(Inputs from Reuters)
