IPL 2021 Phase 2 – New Dates IPL 2021? As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still grappling to finalize the dates & schedule for IPL 2021 Phase 2, there is some bad news for the Indian board. On Monday, reports emerged that the BCCI would extend the window to reduce double-headers with the final on October 15 – but InsideSport.co has reliably learnt that any extension beyond October 10th will not go down well with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The BCCI announced last month that the remaining matches of IPL 2021 would be played in the September-October window in the UAE while it will inform the ICC about its ability to host the ICC T20 World Cup in India by end of June. BCCI is working overtime to make sure that the window gets stretched as long as possible to organize the remaining 31 games of IPL. In this regard, BCCI met ICC officials in UAE and also have spoken to various cricket boards in the last 10 days – but the sources close to the ICC with knowledge of the development told InsideSport.co that it is unlikely that IPL 2021 Phase 2 window will get extended beyond October 10th.
“T20 World Cup is likely to start from 18th Oct, how is it possible for IPL 2021 to continue till October 15th. ICC will never allow such a clash. Moreover, why teams participating in ICC T20 World Cup will allow their players to continue in IPL till 15th Oct? We feel BCCI will not extend the IPL 2021 beyond 10th October,” the source privy to the developments told InsideSport.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Why ICC will not be too pleased with IPL getting extended beyond October 10th?
It is worth noting that ICC had already announced the tentative window for ICC T20 World Cup in India. As per an ICC media release, dated July 20, 2020, the T20 World Cup is suppose to start in mid-October and finals scheduled for November 14.
The T20 World Cup window was chalked out to keep a gap of at least one year between the World Cups as Australia will host the T20 WC in 2022 and India will host the 50-over WC in 2023. ICC also had planned in a manner that window doesn’t clash with any of the already scheduled bilateral series.
More importantly as per the ICC’s understanding with the member boards – no tournament should be planned, minimum 7-10 days before the ICC event. If at all IPL 2021 runs too close to ICC T20 World Cup, its natural it will not to be the liking of ICC informed the source to InsideSport.
“See, there is understanding between the members and ICC that no tournament should be played and planned before any ICC marquee event. We don’t think BCCI or anyone will be allowed to compromise with that understanding. Moreover ICC also has a legally binding commitment to its sponsors that ICC tournaments will not run-close with any other marquee event which has capability to take the sheen out of any ICC event”, declared the source.
It’s clear if ICC T20 World Cup is beginning anywhere closer to October 18th and ending on November 14th as per the ICC release – no way IPL 2021 will be allowed to run close to it.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: What are BCCI’s plans – when will the IPL 2021 dates and schedule will be announced ?
On Monday, an ANI report quoted a BCCI source saying that the Indian board is in talks with Sri Lanka Cricket to play the possible host to ICC T20 World Cup. InsideSport tried verifying the facts and were informed that no way T20 World Cup can be planned in Sri Lanka.
Reason 1 – The UAE is ICC’s official standby venue while Oman as an option to co-host has also been discussed. The BCCI doesn’t have a right to change the venue of the world cup independently. ICC controls and manages all rights to the T20 World Cup and none of the ICC official has explored such a opportunity with Sri Lanka Cricket.
Reason 2 – BCCI is unlikely to explore such a opportunity. Reason, if the world cup gets played in Sri Lanka, it will bring more difficulties for BCCI to conduct the IPL 2021 Remaining matches. Right now both IPL & T20 World Cup is being explore in UAE – if it goes to Sri Lanka that means more logistics, more time, bigger window will be required to conduct the events.
InsideSport.co reached out to BCCI officials for there take on the situation and we were told that ‘dates for IPL 2021 in UAE will be revealed soon, right now discussions with various stakeholder, foreign boards are on’
BCCI is known for coming out and winning the toughest of the situations in World Cricket – but this time it will be a herculean task to first manage IPL 2021 in a short window and then making the member boards agree to release their players right before the T20 World Cup.
The situation according to the information available is expected to get clear in the next few days.
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