The 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to be staged from September 19 to November 8 in UAE. There was a lot of speculation, reports and rumours regarding the future of the tournament, earlier scheduled to commence from March 29.
However, the bludgeoning rise in COVID-19 cases led to its postponement for an indefinite period. Even when the situation appeared to be extremely unfavourable, BCCI was fully determined to conduct the league at any cost.
IPL, since its inception in 2008, forms a lion share of boards’ revenue and its cancellation would have added a heavy financial burden on BCCI.
Although media reports earlier implied the tournament would begin from September 26, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel stated that the event would kick-off from September 19, a week before what initial reports suggested.
So what’s the reason behind preponing the tournament by a week?
Considering the mandatory quarantine period the Indian team will have to stay when they travel later this year to Australia, BCCI preponed the IPL 2020 by a week. As per Australian government rules, the team will have to get quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.
“The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per the Australian government rules. A delay would have sent the plans haywire,” a BCCI official told PTI.
Further, since the window also offers for a full seven-week league, the broadcasters are happy as there would be a fewer double-headers.
“The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and broadcasters will be happy with full seven-week window,” the official added.
Patel earlier confirmed that the schedule of IPL 2020 has been finalised and other important issues will be discussed in the GC meeting next week.
“The GC will meet shortly but we have finalised the schedule. It will run from September 19 to November 8. We expect government approval to come through. It is a full 51-day IPL,” Patel confirmed.
