Indian Premier League (IPL) giants Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) have received a significant jolt regarding their plans to depart for the UAE on August 10-12.
Reportedly, the BCCI has intimated all franchises that no team can fly to the Middle-East before August 20.
Last week, the apex cricketing board in India announced a major development involving the conduct of the 13th edition of the IPL.
The cash-rich league is now scheduled to be hosted from September 19 until November 10 in the UAE. The IPL Governing Council confirmed on Sunday.
“We have been informed by a mail from the IPL GC that we can leave for UAE after August 20. So, there is no question of anyone going there before that. The diktat is pretty clear here,” an official close to the matter, told IANS.
According to reports, the BCCI sent an email to MI and CSK asking them to put on hold their plans of departing for UAE on August 10 or 12.
MI and CSK have won the most number of IPL titles in the tournament history and are most likely to feature in the lung-opener. The matches of the IPL 2020 will be played in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.
Moreover, the IPL franchises are yet to receive SOPs from the apex governing body, which issued the same to the state associations on Sunday.
“We have not got the SOPs yet, but we have been given the go-ahead to start preparation, and the visa process will start from tomorrow onward. The hotels have already been blocked so that is no issue. The blueprints are ready,” the franchise official added.
Despite being handed the clearance from the Sports Ministry, the BCCI awaits approval from the Central Government to organize the tournament abroad.
“The BCCI has received clearance from the Sports Ministry and we are hopeful of a positive response from the other departments quite soon as well,” a BCCI administrative quoted earlier.
