Hyderabad: Cricket fans all around the world are waiting for the 13th edition of the India Premier League. The apex cricket body of India, BCCI, is going to hold a meeting on July 17 to take the decision on the IPL 2020. It looks like it is near to impossible to host the mega event in India thus now the UAE is in the race for hosting this year's IPL.
According to BCCI sources, the possibility of holding IPL in the UAE is increasing day by day. Earlier BCCI was thinking to host the season in India itself but as the situation in Mumbai and Pune gets worse, it looks a bit impossible.
In these circumstances the chances of playing IPL in the UAE is high. This final decision will be taken on the July 17 meeting, but BCCI will only make the official announcement once the T20 2020 World Cup gets cancelled.
Earlier, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has expressed that he does not wish to see a year without IPL.
"We don't want the year 2020 to finish without an IPL. Our first priority is India and even if we get 35 to 40 days, we will host it. But we don't know where...," Ganguly said.
"I will put it in this order. Firstly, whether we can (have an IPL) within the time frame as IPL has a limited window.
"Secondly India. If it's not possible then we are thinking of going out (abroad). But going out where...because if you go out it becomes expensive for everyone -- franchises and board.
"Because of the conversion rate and currency exchange rate, it becomes expensive. So we are monitoring but as I said we are very keen to host it and got our fingers crossed."
However, BCCI's decision largely depends on the ICC’s call regarding the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to start mid-October. As far as the IPL 2020 is concerned, chances of the tournament being organized in India look bleak as the country rose to the third position in coronavirus affected cases behind Brazil and the United States of America (USA).
