Indian Premier League to be shifted in UAE in 2019?

VIVO IPL 2018 will start with a star studded ceremony
Indian Premier League season 12 is shifted to UAE. File Pic

Debasis Sen, Kolkata: As it was reported by www.xtratime.in on April 19 the Indian Premier League may be shifted in UAE next year says a senior BCCI today. With General Elections dates in India expected to clash with the tournament dates next year, the BCCI would decide that the 12th edition of the cash rich league may be played in UAE. Earlier it was rumoured that the league might be staged in South Africa next year.

Read More: Indian Premier League likely to be shifted in UAE in 2019

“Well, we will only take a call when the situation arises, but we are ready for any such eventuality. United Arab Emirates looks to be the most likely country where it would be shifted if need be,” a senior BCCI official told today.

“UAE’s time zone suits the Indian audience unlike South Africa,” he stated.

Though 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.

According to the Lodha recommendations there has to be a 15 day window between any 50 over tournament and the IPL. The next edition of IPL will start from March 29 and the final will take place on May 19. So, technically India won’t face any problem to start their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5.