BCCI looking to host IPL 2020 between September and early November

The postponement of the T20 World Cup has brightened the chances of IPL 2020 which missed the April-May window as it was postponed until further notice due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As it turns out, the BCCI is keen on hosting the IPL 2020 in a window between September and November first week, India Today reported after the Indian board's Apex Council meeting on Friday.

The Asia Cup, which was scheduled for September-October, was also postponed due to the pandemic, the Asian Cricket Council confirmed earlier this month.

The BCCI has more or less zeroed in on the United Arab Emirates as the host nation for IPL 2020. While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, had told this publication, that India will be the first choice venue to host the IPL, the discussion at Apex Council meeting leaned towards the UAE, considering the rising Covid-19 cases in India.

Apart from the reduced quarantine period, the BCCI also believes that the UAE, being a travel hub, is well



connected. Medical facilities and previous experience of hosting the IPL may work in the UAE's favour.

Ganguly though maintained that the BCCI doesn't want the year 2020 to end without an IPL.

The BCCI is now targetting a shortened window of 5 to 6 weeks for IPL 2020. UAE, which had hosted the first leg of IPL in 2014, was zeroed in as the frontrunner as the BCCI expects the quarantine period in the wake of the pandemic to come down to a day or so during the window targetted for the IPL.

While several international sides have begun their training camps, the BCCI is yet to arrange one for its contracted players.

Ganguly said the BCCI is hoping to have a training camp for India players in August-September.

"We tentatively, if at all the IPL happens in October, maybe August-September would the time where we can pull the players out and get together for 15 days. The Asia Cup has been cancelled. But the players have been training."