Xtra Time Web Desk: It’s Dubai calling again for the Indian Premier League. If things fall in place, the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL XII) is all set to be staged in UAE next year. With election dates in India expected to clash with the tournament dates next year, UAE is tipped as the front runner to host the tournament.
This is the not the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East. Last time the seventh edition of the tournament was staged in 2014. In fact the league had to be shifted out of the country on couple of occasions for different reasons. In 2009, South Africa had edged out England as the hosts of the tournament, with the tournament dates clashing with the general elections in India.
In 2014, the tournament was shifted out yet again, this time to UAE for the first two weeks, the reason being the Lok Sabha elections in April-May, the exact months in which the league takes place.
It is learnt from reliable sources that UAE is tipped to be the venue country for the cash rich league. It was rumoured that the league might be staged in South Africa next year.
According to the Lodha recommendations there has to be a 15 day window between the 50 over tournament and the IPL. But with the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup already slated to take place from May end to mid-July, the league might as well be pre-poned to March-April.