Emirates Cricket Board has expressed the desire to host this year’s edition of Indian Premier League if India is not able to host the league following coronavirus pandemic in the country. The 13th season of the IPL was scheduled to begin on 29th March but the countrywide lockdown ensured that it gets cancelled for indefinite period of time.
There is speculation that the BCCI may host this year’s IPL in October if the T20 World Cup is not held in Australia. According to a report by Gulf News, the UAE Cricket Board has offered BCCI to host the IPL. The report was quoted by board general secretary Mubashshir Usmani, who pointed out that they have hosted the T20 league successfully previously. Its worth mentioning that the first half of the IPL was played in the UAE in 2009 due to the Lok Sabha elections in India, which was eventually won by UPA and Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister for the second term.
“In the past, Emirates Cricket Board has successfully hosted IPL matches in UAE. We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past. Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities make the Emirates a desired place for hosting all types of cricket,” Usmani was quoted as saying by The Gulf.
He further noted that the Emirates Cricket Board had also send a proposal to the England and Wales Cricket Board to hold the remaining matches of the season in UAE. He added that Emirates Cricket has proposed to both England and India and they would be happy if either of the board accepts their proposal.
“If our offer is taken up by either of the Boards, then we will be pleased to facilitate the hosting of their matches,” he further added.
The fate of IPL 2020 is dependent on the 2020 T20 world cup which is scheduled to be held in Australia. If the multi team event gets cancelled, it may open door for IPL. The meeting is set to take place on June 10 when the final decision will be taken on the mega event.
