MUMBAI: IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed Sunday that the BCCI has sent an official request to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to stage the Indian Premier League in the UAE.
“Yes, we have sent the acceptance letter to the ECB and both the boards will be working together from now on to stage the tournament,” Patel told UAE’s Khaleej Times.
According to the daily, ECB had sent the proposal to host the IPL to the BCCI in April. Patel further said that the eight IPL franchises will hold their respective pre-tournament training camps in the UAE.
He said that the training camps will be held in the UAE in a bio-secure environment and “the teams need at least three to four weeks to prepare for the tournament”.
Last week, Patel had also confirmed that the IPL will start September 19 and the final will be on November 8.
The tournament is now awaiting government approval in both India and the UAE.
“We have received the letter [from the Board of Control for Cricket in India] and now wait on the decision from the Indian Government which will ink the final deal,” ECB secretary general Mubashshir Usmani told UAE’s The National.
Usmani said preparations are already underway for hosting the event.
“There are many factors which influence the operations and logistics of hosting what is the world’s most exciting, popular and lucrative (cricket) tournament,” he said.
“This is a massive movement of people and equipment and we now need to bring in the experts to discuss all aspects of UAE hosting the IPL.
“This includes the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Sports Councils, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Tourism Bodies and the respective Government entities – such as the Police Forces and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention.
“[They] all have had strong, proven experience in such activities and we will work together to ascertain the best practices to support and deliver on a successful edition.”
In response to reports the BCCI was planning on relocating the event, Usmani said last week that he expected UAE to be “one of the safest destinations in the world” by the time of the rescheduled IPL.
“Firstly, we are extremely pleased with how the UAE Government responded to the virus, which was as early as February,” Usmani said.
“We continue to see encouraging numbers across the country – in decreasing cases and increasing recoveries.
“Secondly, we will fully support any requirements stipulated by the relevant Health Authorities in regards to COVID-19 safety measures and management.”
