If reports are to be believed, the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022) will begin from March 26 onwards, which falls on a Saturday.
Earlier Cricbuzz reports had suggested that official broadcasters Star Sports wanted to utilize the whole weekend and have the tournament begin on Saturday, March 26 with a doubleheader on March 27, Sunday.
And now it has been reported that in a meeting of the IPL governing council and BCCI officials, it was decided that the IPL 2022 will kick off on March 26 onwards, with the board seemingly acceding to the demands of Star Sports.
IPL chairman Brijesh Patel has confirmed the news and revealed that the tournament will not be played out in front of empty stands like the last few editions, barring the UAE leg of IPL 2021.
"The IPL will kick off on March 26, the full schedule will come soon. We will also have crowds but as per the policy of the Maharashtra government. Whether it will be 25 or 50 percent of the stadium capacity will be decided by the government instruction," the IPL chairman told Cricbuzz.
There have also been talks around holding the play-offs and the final in Ahmedabad, but when asked about it, Patel said, "We will decide about the play-offs later."
He also revealed that the schedule for the IPL 2022 will be revealed soon.
The IPL 2022 will feature 10 teams and 74 matches. Till now reports have suggested that the entire tournament will be held in Maharashtra. Four stadiums have been identified for the league stage, with the break-up of the games being 20 at the Wankhede, 15 at Brabourne Stadium, 20 more at DY Patil Stadium, and finally 15 at Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) ground in Gahunje, Pune.
Apart from this, the BCCI has also identified four grounds for the practice, something that the organizers have been brooding over for some time. The teams will be allotted times for practice at the BKC ground in Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, Brabourne Stadium in South Mumbai, DY Patil ground in Navi Mumbai, and either MCA Ground in Kandivali or in Thane.
Cricbuzz understands that the Women's games will be held this year like before (a la Women's T20 Challenge), but a "serious effort" will be made to start a women's IPL from next year on.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
