Mumbai: The Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled from April 16 to June 1, will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India while Bangladesh has been kept as a stand-by due to the general elections, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced here yesterday.
A BCCI statement said that UAE will host 16 matches from April 16-30 and if matches are not possible in India during May 1-12 due to the elections, it would be held in Bangladesh.
The remaining matches from May 13, including the play-offs and the final slated for June 1, will be held in India.
“At least 16 matches will be held in the UAE. BCCI is very grateful to the Emirates Cricket Board, its chairman, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, and the government of the UAE for their offer of wholehearted support to host the Pepsi IPL for this period,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in the statement.
Patel also said that if it was not possible to host the IPL at home during May 1-12 due to the elections then it would be shifted to Bangladesh during that period.
“For the period from Thursday 1st May to Monday 12th May, BCCI has approached the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, seeking permission to play IPL matches in India in cities where the polling has concluded in the respective state. BCCI is extremely conscious of the various complexities involved, but hopes for a favourable consideration,” Patel said in the statement.
“BCCI will abide by the decision of the authorities in this regard. If it is not possible to play in India during this period, IPL matches will be held in Bangladesh and BCCI is thankful to the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the government of Bangladesh for their support,” Patel added.
The BCCI secretary said that after the last day of polling May 13, the remaining matches will be held in India. But no matches would be held on counting day May 16.
“From Tuesday 13th May (once polling has concluded in all states), the remaining league matches plus the play-offs will be played in India. There will be no matches scheduled on the counting day of Friday, 16th May. BCCI will take the advice of the authorities if any further restrictions are required around the counting day,” he said.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) welcomed the decision to stage the IPL matches in the United Arab Emirates.
“The BCCI’s decision to stage the first part of the IPL in the UAE is great news for the people of the UAE and the region. It will complete a remarkable season of cricket in the UAE which has already seen the successful staging of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 and the ICC U-19 World Cup 2014,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said.
“This news comes on the back of the on-field success of the UAE national team, which has qualified for both the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh and the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand, and has the potential to propel cricket’s profile to new heights in the country.”
Based at the ICC headquarters here in Dubai Sports City, Richardson said the ICC was ready to support the successful staging of the IPL matches in its home country.Agencies
