IPL 2021: IPL season to resume on September 19, final on October 15

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to host the remaining matches of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League from September 19-October 15 in the United Arab Emirates. 

The first match will be played on September 19th and the IPL Final will be hosted on October 15th, on the occasion of Dussehra in India. 

According to a BCCI official, the recent meetings between the BCCI and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) went well and the Indian cricket board is confident that the remaining IPL games will be held successfully in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

The BCCI was keen on keeping a 25-day window to finish off the remaining matches. Talks are still on, as far as the availability of foreign players is concerned and the Indian board expects positive outcomes, as per sources. The IPL franchises are also confident that the BCCI will engage in positive discussions with foreign boards and make the foreign players available for the remaining games.

A franchise official was quoted saying, " if we do end up missing some of the foreign stars, that is an area which would need some attention when it comes to picking replacements as the foreign players are also integral to the teams. Team balance can go for a toss, so keeping fingers crossed on that one."

UAE to host suspended IPL 2021 edition

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on May 29, 2021 announced its plans to host remaining matches of the suspended IPL edition in the United Arab Emirates.  The decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) that was held virtually, where all members unanimously agreed to resume IPL, stated BCCI's official press release. 

 The decision on the venue change was taken in the view of the monsoon season in India during the time. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah cited "weather restrictions" as the reason behind the decision to stage the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season in the UAE. 

NEWS 🚨 BCCI to conduct remaining matches of VIVO IPL in UAE.

More details here - https://t.co/HNaT0TVpz1 #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/nua3e01RJt

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 29, 2021

Key Highlights

 •The BCCI is looking to host 31 games in a 25-day window provided that the COVID-19 situation will be under control then. 

•The BCCI is reportedly planning bubble to bubble movement for Team India from the UK to UAE.

•The Indian cricketers are currently in the UK, preparing to play in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. 

•The WTC Final will be followed by a five-match Test series against England.

•The final test against England is scheduled to get over at Old Trafford on September 14.

•Hence, the BCCI will look to get the players flown in directly from the UK bubble into IPL team bubbles in UAE to minimise the quarantine period. 

On T20 World Cup

Speaking on the T20 World Cup, which is slated to take place in India in October 2021, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said that the  board will only take a decision after holding a discussion with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He stated that they will seek time from ICC and decide later. As of now, they are planning on holding tournaments in the safe zone.

Background

The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League was suspended indefinitely on May 4, 2021 after few players tested positive for COVID-19 within the bio-bubble amid the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. All foreign players were soon flown safely out of India to their home destinations. The Australian players were flown to the Maldives where they stayed till Australia lifted the travel ban from India.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah had said then that the BCCI and the IPL GC had unanimously decided to postpone the 2021 season till further notice, as they did not want to compromise the safety of the players and other officials and staff involved.