IPL sets to start on September 19, final on November 8

The money spinner event Indian Premier League (IPL) will start on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates( UAE)  with final slated on Novemeber 8, IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel told the media.

While the event’s Governing Council will meet next week to chalk out the final details and approve the schedule, it is understood that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informally intimated the franchises about the plan.

“The GC will meet shortly but we have finalised the schedule. It will run from September 19 to November 8. We expect the government approval to come through. It is a full 51-day IPL,” Patel confirmed.

The IPL has been made possible by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to postpone the October-November T20 World Cup in Australia owing to the covid-19 pandemic.

BCCI and GC are preparing Standard Operating Procedure to combat the COVID-19 and BCCI will formally write to the Emirates Cricket Board.

While there was speculation that the IPL will start from September 26, BCCI decided to advance it by a week in order to ensure that the Indian team’s tour of Australia is not jeopardised.

“The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per the Australian government rules. A delay would have sent the plans haywire,” the official said.

“The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and there will be much less double headers. We could stick to the original five double headers in a seven week window,” he said.

The Indians are set to play a four-match Test series against Australia starting December 3 in Brisbane.

It is expected that with each and every team needing at least a month’s time to train, the IPL franchises will be leaving base by August 20 which gives them exactly four weeks time to prepare.

There are three grounds available in the UAE – Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi) and the Sharjah ground.

Now with the confirmation of the IPL dates, it is certain Dhoni will lead the Chennai Super King troops in the tournament and as expected, set Twitterverse ablaze.