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XtraTime Web Desk: Star India, the host broadcasters for Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) wants BCCI to keep Diwali week in the season schedule. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already zeroed in the dates of IPL 2020 (provided T20 World Cup is postponed officially by ICC on Monday) from September 26-November 08. But it is learnt the broadcasters wants the schedule to extend further till the Diwali week which is on November 14.

The board has kept the final date on November 08 as they are planning to send the Indian cricketers to Australia on November 10. India is scheduled to take part in a four match test series against Australia from December. The likely reason for sending the team so early could have been the cricketers need to go through compulsory 14 days quarantine.

The reason for Star to extend IPL to Diwali week is they want to utilize the advertisement boom during the festive season. Whether BCCI will accept the broadcasters wish, only time will say. The matter did come up for discussion during the Apex Council meeting of the BCCI. A final announcement regarding the schedule, format and dates will be announced once the ICC takes a call on the T20 World Cup.

It is also learnt that there will not be much of tweaking with the format of IPL 2020. With the Asia Cup already postponed and now if the T20 World Cup also gets rescheduled to 2022 then the BCCI will get a two months window. So, that will mean they will get enough time to squeeze in the cash rich league in the old format i.e., both sides playing each other twice. Only problem is if the tournament is held in UAE, there will be no home and away games.