Xtra Time Web Desk: The remaining 31 matches of the suspended IPL 2021 matches will be played in the United Arab Emirates from September 18-19 to October 09-10. All the matches will be played in the three week window, a senior BCCI official confirmed it to news agency PTI. It will be a win-win scenario for all the primary stakeholders including the BCCI, franchises and broadcasters. The IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4 after multiple COVID-19 cases inside its bio-bubble came to light.
“The BCCI has spoken to all the stakeholders and the likely start could be between September 18th to 20th. Since September 18 is a Saturday and 19 a Sunday, it is more likely that you would want to re-start it on a weekend date,” the official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“Similarly, October 9th or 10th will be the final as it’s a weekend. We are finalising the itinerary and there will be 10 double headers and seven evening matches along with four main games (two qualifiers, one eliminator and the final), which completes the list of 31 matches,” the official added.
The Indian team’s last Test match against England is set to finish on September 14 at Manchester and on the next day, the whole team will be flown to UAE in a chartered flight for a “bubble to bubble” transfer.
“The Indian team and the English players who will be available will fly in the same charter flight from Manchester to Dubai. Similarly, the West Indies players will also fly in after completing the Caribbean Premier League engagements. There will be three-day quarantine for players arriving from UK and the Caribbean,” the source said.
A franchise official confirmed that a communication from BCCI has come on the matter.
The BCCI has also decided to cancel India’s T20 series against South Africa scheduled in September, which was a build-up to the side’s World T20 preparations. The two-Test home series against NZ could also be shifted.
With Inputs from PTI