The Board of Control for Cricket in India has zeroed in on UAE as the venue for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed to Cricbuzz, on Tuesday (July 21). The board has written to the government seeking permission to hold the tournament in UAE and are awaiting the go-ahead.
"We have written to the government seeking permission to host the tournament in UAE," Patel told Cricbuzz. "The dates have not been finalised as yet and will be decided at the (next) IPL GC, which will be held in the next seven or ten days."
IPL, which was scheduled to begin in late March 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. BCCI looked at several alternatives in a bid to host it later in the year in India. Boards from several countries - Sri Lanka, New Zealand ad UAE, among others offered to host the tournament. Last month, the Emirates Cricket Board had offered to host the tournament in UAE, stating that they had the required infrastructure for it.
Patel has insisted that the option of hosting the tournament in India hasn't been eliminated as yet. The decision will be taken in the upcoming IPL Governing Council meeting.