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XtraTime Web Desk: The Emirates Cricket Board on Saturday confirmed that it had expressed interest in hosting the IPL 2020 if Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to shift the cash-rich league out of India in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian cricket board is looking at the October-November window provided the International Cricket Council (ICC) decides to postpone the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Australia in October. A final decision on the matter will be taken by the world governing body of cricket in its board meeting on June 10.

The 13th edition of IPL was scheduled to start in late March but it was postponed indefinitely due to the global health crisis. There is speculation that the BCCI is looking for an October window to hold the event in case the T20 World Cup in Australia is not held this year.

A report in the ‘Gulf News’ said that the UAE Cricket Board has made an offer to the BCCI that it can host the IPL.

“In the past, Emirates Cricket Board has successfully hosted IPL matches in UAE. We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past,” its general secretary Mubashshir Usmani was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities make the Emirates a desired place for hosting all types of cricket.”Usmani said the Emirates Cricket Baord had, in fact, offered their venues to the England and Wales Cricket Board to complete the English season here as well.”We have come forward and offered our venues to both England and India. We have also hosted matches involving England team on multiple occasions previously. If our offer is taken up by either of the Boards, then we will be pleased to facilitate hosting of their matches,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket is the other Board which has expressed interest to host the IPL if India decides to hold the tournament abroad.