The BCCI is likely to pull every string it can in order to host the upcoming IPL 2022 edition in India itself amidst rumors of moving the tournament to either South Africa or UAE keeping in mind the ongoing third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
The BCCI’s resolve to host the IPL 2022 in India is fueled by reports that the peak of the ongoing third wave is expected in early February and by the time end of March rolls in, the third wave will subside significantly enough to host the tournament in the country itself.
Post a meeting of its office-bearers on Thursday, the BCCI has finalized its decision to stage this year’s IPL in India and move to the UAE only if the Covid situation in Maharashtra and the country gets worse.
“As of now, the Board is mulling organizing the league stage in Maharashtra, and the playoffs in Ahmedabad,” revealed a source to Times of India.
The league stage of the forthcoming edition of the IPL will be held at three venues in Mumbai — the Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium in Cricket Club of India, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, near Pune.
The playoffs including the final of the tournament could be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“Yes, I believe that the IPL is coming to CCI, and we’ll be very glad to host it,” CCI president Premal Udani told TOI.
Not only this, but the BCCI is planning to have crowds in the stadiums as well, avoiding yet another season of the world-famous T20 league behind closed doors.
TOI has learnt that “some crowd” may be allowed at venues in the league stage in Maharashtra, provided the Covid situation remains under control, and the number of cases is low in Mumbai and Pune.
If the number of positive cases isn’t high around that time, the state government authorities are likely to allow around 25% capacity crowds for this year’s IPL.
The idea is to replicate the ‘model’ of the Wankhede Test match last December between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, which saw crowds being allowed up to 25% of the capacity of the venue, as per the state government guidelines in view of the threat from the Omicron variant.
"As per that guideline, 50% capacity was allowed indoors, which means that corporate boxes, and perhaps the press box, could be filled up to 50% of the capacity,” a reliable source told this paper.
“Even in the present situation, the Maharashtra government, as per its last order on Covid norms, is keen to organize national and international sporting events as long as a strict bio-bubble, and all the Covid protocols are maintained. This is why the state government has allowed the ongoing AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Mumbai and Pune, the Tata Open tennis tournament in Pune and the next edition of the IPL in the same cities,” said the source.
The BCCI aims to begin the IPL 2022 from March 27 onwards.
(Times of India inputs)
