BCCI gets Indian government’s nod to host IPL 2020 in the UAE

Tags: BCCI, IPL 2020, UAE

Published on: Aug 12, 2020

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received approval from the Indian government to host 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 was quoted as telling The Indian Express. According to Patel, BCCI and the IPL franchises would work together on the bio-security arrangements. “We have already released the SOP (standard operating procedure). They have to follow that Sports Pundit. We will also be having a committee,” Patel added.

It was announced last week that the IPL would be held in the UAE from September 19 to November 10. Meanwhile, BCCI now has to find a replacement title sponsor for this year’s edition. Regular sponsor Vivo has pulled out owing to the souring relations between India and China. The Chinese smartphone maker had gained title sponsorship rights for Rs 2,199 crore in a five-year deal in 2018.

“We will issue an Expression of Interest (EOI), which will be coming today or tomorrow,” Patel further informed over the hunt for a new title sponsor. Meanwhile, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) also confirmed that 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. 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,” Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, cabinet member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and ECB Chairman said in a statement.

“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 further added.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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