Remainder of IPL 2021 in September-October in UAE
In a media release issued on Saturday, the BCCI said the decision to shift the IPL, which was suspended in early May at the halfway stage, to the UAE was owing to the monsoon season in India which usually stretches between June and early October.
The remainder of the IPL 2021 season is to be held in the UAE in September-October. The decision was taken at a special general body meeting held virtually on Saturday.
In a media release issued on Saturday, the BCCI said the decision to shift the IPL, which was suspended in early May at the halfway stage, to the UAE was owing to the monsoon season in India which usually stretches between June and early October.
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced to complete the remaining matches of VIVO Indian Premier League 2021 season in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) considering the monsoon season in India in the months of September-October this year," the BCCI said.
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The decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume IPL.
The press release also said that the BCCI SGM further authorised the Office Bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
It would ask the global body to wait on the COVID-19 situation here before any call is taken.
The IPL was rescheduled indefinitely by the BCCI on May 4th after several players and staff members of IPL teams started testing positive for Covid-19 as the second phase of the virus spread rapidly in the country.
As many as seven people across four teams - Chennai Super Kings (L Balaji, Mike Hussey and a member of service staff), Kolkata Knight Riders (Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier), Delhi Capitals (Amit Mishra) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (Wriddhiman Saha) - had tested positive around the time the IPL was called off. Two more Knight Riders players - India fast bowler Prasidh Krishna and New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert - tested positive after the IPL was suspended.
The last match of the season so far was played on May 2nd between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.
At the time the IPL was suspended, there were still 31 matches, including the four playoffs, left to be played.
Delhi Capitals currently lead the points table with 12 points from 8 matches.
This will be the second successive year the UAE will be hosting the IPL. In 2020 the BCCI had conducted the entire tournament split between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Those three venues are likely to once again play hosts once the BCCI determines the window for the IPL, which remains its primary challenge now.
