The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at every possible option to complete the suspended IPL 2021, including the English counties offer to host the remaining games.
The 14th edition of Indian Premier League was postponed indefinitely on May 4 after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported in the bio-bubble of various franchises.
Subsequently, four premier English counties — Middlesex, Surrey, Warwickshire and Lancashire —expressed interest to host the remainder of the IPL 2021.
See Also: BCCI to discuss hosting of T20 World Cup 2021 during its Special General Meeting on May 29
Meanwhile, a report published in TOI claims that IPL broadcasters Star India is also in favour of conducting the now-postponed tournament in UK.
"UK is a relatively costlier destination. But on the flipside, the UK government is allowing crowds for sports events. That means, franchises can earn from gate money and that will subsidize costs. As of now, this is how the BCCI is seeing it", sources tracking developments told TOI.
BCCI will reportedly take a final call on the shifting of T20 World Cup 2021 outside India post June. And if UAE gets the hosting rights for the global event, then England will continue to remain the first option for the IPL.
"Only if costs are escalating to a point where it starts affecting stakeholders, the BCCI will consider the UAE as the second option for the IPL. On that front, we aren't even discounting the idea of hosting the IPL in Sri Lanka," sources added, terming the island country "a friendly cricketing nation".
According to TOI, one of the major reasons for IPL moving to UK is, "BCCI and the ECB are in discussions to tweak the five-Test series. Details of those discussions aren't public yet. But in whichever manner the ECB agrees to tweak the Test series, they will want the IPL in England because the counties can earn from it. There'll be a good chance of a quid pro quo".
The IPL 2021 season saw only 29 games being held in four venues – Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Delhi. There are 31 matches still left to be played and all the stakeholders are keen to complete the cash-rich tournament.
"So, everything will move in that direction. The IPL has to be completed and there is no doubt about it," sources said.
(With TOI inputs)
