It was not sure if IPL13 2020 would be held this year due to the decisions based on BCCI. However, it has now been shifted to a different venue, i.e, in Dubai. The rising cases of Covid-19 in India do not seem to be the ideal location for such a big sporting event as IPL. Dubai Sports City Head of Cricket and Events, Salman Hanif, has said they are keeping the facilities ready for such an eventuality. Hence, the IPL team is all set to move to the United Arab Emirates for the 13th season.
The tentative dates are from September 26, 2020, until November 8, 2020, which is a period of 44 days to host about 60 games. The scheduled dates are yet to go through the governing council and get its final approval and are expected to be made public soon after the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally announces the postponement of this year's T20 World Cup. The BCCI also needs permission to shift the IPL to a foreign country.
The reason for choosing the UAE, as told, was that there would be no consequent disruption to the league in these volatile pandemic times. Extremely strict quarantine rules are not imposed in UAE and markets and malls have already been open while tourists have also been welcomed. A franchise official said that they have already started preparing for the logistics and have zeroed in on the hotel they wish to stay at in Abu Dhabi and how exactly they will train and prepare for the 13th edition of the league.
Hanif while speaking to the 'Gulf News' said that the Dubai Sports City, which includes the Dubai International Stadium and the ICC Academy has nine wickets on the top in case a large number of matches have to be accommodated within a smaller time-frame. The matches will not be scheduled there, for now, to keep the wickets fresh. After working on the SOP, the course of action will be decided soon. Regarding the concern of the players, it will be of utmost importance, and the construction of bio-bubble is in the thought process. The UAE is well organized in terms of infrastructure and other facilities and since the Asia Cup and other international matches have been played there before, Dubai Sports City is a potential venue for hosting the glitzy T20 league.
In terms of travel, a former champion franchise said that before heading off to the UAE, they are looking forward to a pre-isolation period of the players and organizing committee in India itself. “We are looking at having the boys come together in India. Go through a period of spending time in a bio-secure environment and then get our tests done and head to UAE." Chartered planes are the most viable options as normal flight schedules may or may not start and each team will have around 35-40 people traveling as a unit.
However, another franchise official begged to differ and said that they are still looking at first-class travel if flights start operating as the franchise isn’t looking at any grouping in India and want the assembling to happen directly in the UAE.
“To be honest, if you ask me, we as a franchise are looking at first-class travel for our players as that means better distancing. The sole reason is that we might not be assembling in India and be directly heading to UAE from each of our homes after doing necessary COVID-19-related tests. So, in such a scenario, you cannot expect the owners to pay for 8-10 chartered trips. But yes, if normal flights don’t start operating then it is a different scenario,” the official said.
But all franchises are on the same plane when it comes to having foreign players head straight to UAE rather than first assemble in India, undergo quarantine formalities in this country, and then follow the same in UAE.
The old IPL format will be restored this time also, i.e each team plays another twice, and the only change would be that as the tournament moves to the UAE, the home and away concept will not be applicable to IPL 2020.
Kane Williamson, captain of the New Zealand cricket team and a member of Sunrisers Hyderabad, is excited at the prospect of the IPL happening in UAE but is equally cautious “before any final decisions”.
“By all accounts the IPL, they’re looking to host that tournament which is a fantastic tournament to be a part of and attracts such an incredible audience.”
“I know the guys are really looking forward to catching up, it’s been a long time. The team is getting back into training and potential cricket is on the horizon so the players want to be ready,” he said.
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