Picture Credit: ICC/IPL/BCCI
Even though initial reports had suggested that the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence on September 19 and finish on October 15, fresh reports suggest that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is unlikely to allow BCCI to extend IPL 2021 to October 15. This is because the T20 World Cup, also set to happen in October, is likely to commence from October 18. Although the venue for the second phase of IPL is finalised as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the T20 World Cup is currently scheduled to happen in India but may also be relocated to UAE.
Although BCCI is working day and night to ensure that they get as long a window as possible to get the remaining 31 matches done and dusted, the sources close to the ICC have been cited in a media report claiming that IPL 2021 Phase 2 will not get extended beyond October 10.
BCCI will not extend the IPL 2021 beyond 10 October: Sources
"T20 World Cup is likely to start from 18th Oct, how is it possible for IPL 2021 to continue till October 15th. ICC will never allow such a clash. Moreover, why teams participating in ICC T20 World Cup will allow their players to continue in IPL till 15th Oct? We feel BCCI will not extend the IPL 2021 beyond 10th October," the source was quoted as saying in an Inside Sport report.
"See, there is an understanding between the members and ICC that no tournament should be played and planned before any ICC marquee event. We don’t think BCCI or anyone will be allowed to compromise with that understanding. Moreover, ICC also has a legally binding commitment to its sponsors that ICC tournaments will not run close with any other marquee event which has the capability to take the sheen out of any ICC event," the source added.
Meanwhile, it is clear that if the T20 World Cup indeed begins on October 18, with a final on November 14, IPL 2021 will not in any way be allowed to happen so close to that date.