IPL Trophy Pic Credit: BCCI/IPL
Conducting the remainder of IPL 2021 has certainly been one of the biggest headaches for the BCCI. The tournament that got called off midway in India after several COVID cases were found in its bio-bubble, is now set to be played in UAE. The venue was confirmed by the apex cricket governing body of India in the latest Special General Meeting that took place on May 29 (Saturday), however, the dates aren't confirmed yet.
Given that September-October is the only window BCCI is left with to conduct the remaining 31 matches of IPL 2021, speculations have been rife that the mega event is likely to start after mid September. Meanwhile, according to a recent media report, Sourav Ganguly and company have already decided the dates for the remainder of the tournament that is slated to take place in UAE.
According to InsideSport, the BCCI has decided to resume IPL 2021 on September 17. It added that the final of the 14th edition of the league will be played on October 10. However, any official statement hasn't been released by the cricket governing body yet.
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Availability of foreign players biggest problem for BCCI
Even though BCCI manages to host the remainder of the IPL 2021 in the September-October window, the availability of foreign players has been something that must be worrying it. While Ashley Giles, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has already hinted that the centrally contracted English players would be missing the remainder of IPL 2021, players from other teams like New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and West Indies are also doubtful.
Some media reports also claim that BCCI is about to make a request to the Caribbean Premier League to conclude the tournament before its scheduled date of September 19. If the plan works out, then the players from the island would be available for IPL 2021 since its resumption.