The 2020 edition of the IPL will take place in the United Arab Emirates, Brijesh Patel, Chairman of the IPL Board of Directors, confirmed today to ESPNcricinfo. Patel said an official announcement on the matter would be made at the body’s next meeting.
Patel has not confirmed tournament dates, but as recently reported ESPNcricinfo understands that BCCI scored in the window between September 26 and November 7 for the IPL, which includes 60 games. Patel said BCCI is waiting for the ICC to officially postpone the Men’s T20 World Cup this year, which would free up a window for the tournament.
“We were waiting for the ICC to announce [the postponement] officially,” Patel told ESPNcricinfo.” We applied [for permission] with the Indian government. Should get it. “
Patel said Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah would be the top three locations. Asked whether the tournament will be played behind closed doors, Patel said, “it is up to the UAE government.”
In April, the BCCI postponed the IPL indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although BCCI has intended to host IPL in India, the pandemic movement has taken on an upward trend in the country in recent months. With officially more than one million confirmed Covid-19 infections, India ranks third on the list of active cases worldwide.
It is understood that the franchises are not yet informed of the transfer of the tournament to the UAE.