Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The confusion around the IPL 2022 venue is getting deeper and deeper. While it was earlier reported that the BCCI is exploring all overseas options, a latest report has claimed otherwise. The Board of Cricket Control BCCI) in India has zeroed upon South Africa as the only overseas venue in case it fails to keep it in India. Moreover, as already reported on SportsTiger, the Indian cricket board is reluctant on moving the Indian T20 League outside of India.
The BCCI is giving it all to keep the tournament within the country, even if all the games are played across 3-4 venues of two states- Maharashtra and Gujarat. But if the board is unable to convince the stakeholders about the same and it is forced to host it outside of India, it cannot be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Sri Lanka. As reported by TOI, the BCCI is considering South Africa as the only overseas option and also as Plan B while hosting IPL 2022 in India remains Plan A.
The reason to scrap UAE from the overseas list was more of a financial one. "The Board has paid Emirates Cricket fees to the tune of Rs 150 crore (Rs 100 cr for 2020 edition of the IPL & Rs 50 crore for the 2021 edition) to host the tournament there. The Board is certainly not keen on spending that kind of money again and will therefore look at options," TOI quoted someone in the know of the developments. "It may not happen at all. South Africa is merely the BCCI's Plan-B," the source further added.
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Plan A from BCCI is to host the entire tournament across four venues including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and the knockouts in Ahmedabad. This will help in minimizing or avoiding any travel by air.
Final call in second week of February
While the confusion about the venue still remains, the BCCI may take the final call about the same in second week of February. Notably, the IPL 2022 Mega Auction is also scheduled for 12 and 13 February.
"The final call can be taken around the second week of February and there'll be enough time to move bag-and-baggage, if necessary," say those in the know.