The BCCI has received the Indian government’s approval to hold the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed.
“Yes, we have received the government approval,” Patel told The Indian Express. He added that the BCCI would work in tandem with the IPL franchises to make the bio-security arrangements. “We have already released the SOP (standard operating procedure). They have to follow that. We will also be having a committee (to supervise it),” Patel said.
The government approval clears the decks for the 2020 IPL to take place in UAE, from September 19 to November 10. At the moment though, the BCCI’s top priority is to find a replacement sponsor following the suspension of the IPL’s title sponsorship contract with Vivo. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer that acquired the IPL title sponsorship for Rs 2,199 crore in a five-year deal in 2018, has suspended their partnership for the 2020 edition of the tournament by mutual consent with the Indian board.
“We will issue an Expression of Interest (EOI), which will be coming today or tomorrow,” Patel said. A public backlash against Chinese companies amid the Sino-Indian border dispute saw Vivo and the BCCI mutually agree to a one-year moratorium in the IPL’s title sponsorship.
On Tuesday, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) said it has received the official clearance from the BCCI to host the IPL in the UAE from September 19 to November 10.
“We feel extremely privileged to host what could be considered the pinnacle-event of our favourite sport,” said Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, cabinet member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and ECB Chairman. “The magnitude of being in a position to bring the IPL to the vast cricket-loving global community, during current events which have greatly impacted our daily lives, is one we take with extreme importance..”
“This is undoubtedly the highest-profile cricketing-event to be held in the UAE and our team will continue to support all facets (of the tournament) and work toward delivering a successful event for the enjoyment of all sports-fans; here in the UAE, in India and across the world,” he added in his statement.
