IPL

Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL

Days after confirming to host the suspended edition of Indian Premier League 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has give a major update on the dates of the tournament. The season which was earlier suspended to COVID-19 cases is all set to resume in September this year. Although a final update on the venue is yet to come from the Indian board, but the season will be completed in UAE for sure.

IPL 2021 to resume from September 19

However, while the entire 2020 edition happened in UAE, this time the BCCI had brought back the IPL to India after there was a slight dip in the number of COVID-19 cases. But the second wave of the pandemic swept the country of its feet and did not even spare the otherwise safe bio-bubble environment in which the tournament was happening. Keeping in mind the emergency situation, the Indian Cricket board has yet again relocated the tournament to UAE also suggesting that the September-October window will also not be the ideal weather to play cricket in India.

The halted edition of the tournament will get underway from September 19 this year. Meanwhile, the final of the tournament has been scheduled on October 15, a day after India celebrates the festival of Dussehra this year.  The remaining fixtures will be staged across three venue in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi- much like 2020 edition of the T20 tournament.

Board was always keen on a 25-day window to finish the remaining matches: BCCI official

"The discussions went really well and with ECB (Emirates Cricket Board) already giving us the oral nod to host the event ahead of the BCCI SGM, it was about closing the deal over the last week. The first game after the season resumes will be held on September 19 while we will have the final on October 15. The BCCI was always keen on a 25-day window to finish the remaining matches," a BCCI official was quoted as saying in an ANI report.

Now with the dates and venues confirmed, the availability of overseas players remain the only major obstacle in the way of the IPL but the BCCI seems assured that they will find a way to tackle that situation.

"The discussions have started and we are keeping fingers crossed that the foreign players will be mostly available. If a couple of them do not manage to turn up, we shall then decide on the future course of action. But keeping fingers crossed for now and hoping to have an action-packed end to the 14th edition in UAE," the official added.

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