DUBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Emirates Cricket Board have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop the cricketing ties between India and UAE.
“I, along with vice chairman of Emirates Cricket Board Khalid Al Zarooni signed an MoU & hosting agreement between BCCI and Emirates Cricket to boost the cricketing ties between our countries,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted on Saturday.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and treasurer Arun Dhumal were present on the occasion, he added.
After the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally announced the postponement of the T20 World Cup, the BCCI capitalised on the opportunity to stage the IPL during the time the T20 World Cup was dated to take place. It is believed UAE was chosen keeping in mind their prior experience of hosting a limited part of the tournament in 2014.
While there was no official confirmation, the agreement could mean that the IPL 2021, which is supposed to be held in the next six months, could be again hosted in the UAE if the situation doesn’t improve in India.
“There are two major events. England home series for which having it in India is still the first option. However, if the COVID caseload during January remains the same, I guess it’s only fair that BCCI keeps an option B ready which could be UAE. Also the next big issue is IPL 2021 which starts late March, early April,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
