Since the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL), many day games have usually been scheduled during the double-headers, and the night-matches have often stretched past midnight due to rain delays or a tie-breaker.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now aiming to make few changes in such regularities.
The next season of the IPL could see some serious changes in schedule and match-timings. According to a report in the Indian Express, the BCCI is currently working on a plan to schedule only one game on a single day in the tournament. Also, there is a possibility of a few double-headers during the weekends.
The less number of double-headers would mean that the fans could see a longer IPL in 2020. The BCCI is mulling overextending the tournament to 60 days, as opposed to the 45-day window currently.
The BCCI is also keen to have a 7 pm (IST) start of the night-matches. There have been concerns from many former cricketers, including legendary Sunil Gavaskar over late finishes in the T20 matches, and the IPL Governing Council did prepone the play-offs by 30 minutes in the 2019 edition.
“There is a plan in place of playing more games at night. If it is passed, each team will have to play only one game in the afternoon. Teams who play in the north face heatwaves and conditions get more difficult. There is a plan of using all 60 days instead of wrapping up the IPL in 45 days. The IPL GC has to approve it,” a source from the board was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
The IPL 2020 is most likely to start on April 1 and will continue till May 30. The auction for the upcoming edition will take place on December 19 in Kolkata.
It has also been reported that the opening ceremony will not be held on the same day as the opening match of the tournament.
