IPL 2021 suspended due to an increase in the Covid cases among the players and officials of different franchises. 29 out of 60 matches played this year and the remaining half of the IPL will certainly not take place in India. The rest of the matches can be held overseas considering the available window before T20 World Cup.
UPDATE: The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season with immediate effect.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 4, 2021
Details – https://t.co/OgYXPj9FQy pic.twitter.com/lYmjBId8gL
The remaining half of IPL will certainly not be held in India considering the worst Covid scenario in the country. Even after enhanced bio-secure bubbles and other precautions, the players and officials of different franchises tested positive creating a panic situation resulting in suspension of IPL. The overseas cricketer will not prefer to return back given the Covid situation if the IPL is happening in India.
BCCI and IPL commitee have come up with few plans to move the league overseas in the available window before the T20 world cup. Three venues are in plan now with UAE, UK & Australia.
UAE: UAE has been a successful venue for the IPL last year where the tournament was successfully hosted despite the pandemic situation across the world. As the T20 world cup could also be hosted here in UAE, it will be easy for the players and the team to play the remaining 31 matches and get ready for the T20 world cup that begins around October 22. “The only concern is the UAE’s weather that remains very hot in September and begins to cool down in October onwards”, an official said.
UK: UK can be a better option as Indian team will travel to England next month for the World Test Championship and stay their for the five match test series. The end of English summer will be a favorable condition to conduct the league. A small window is also available in between the test match and T20 world cup.
As the Covid situation is under control in UK, overseas players will not have any concern to travel. This option seems to more viable and the players can head to UAE for the T20 world cup after the league.
Australia: The time zone in Australia will best suite the league which will cater to Indian prime time. But Australian Government needs to change their mind and revises the policies in moving the T20 world cup to Australia that was scheduled in India this year.
The IPL got suspended due to the following players and officials of different franchises tested Covid positive during the tournament:
- KKR – Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier
- CSK – Lakshmipathy Balaji, Michael Hussey
- SRH – Wriddhiman Saha
- DC – Amit Mishra
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