IPL 2022 to start on March 26? – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering broadcast partner Star India’s request to start IPL 2022 on March 26 instead of March 27. The broadcasting partner wants the board to advance the date by a day as it will fall on a Saturday, paving the way for a double-header on Sunday. However, BCCI is yet to green-signal the request. A decision will be taken by next week when the IPL schedule is released. Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Even though BCCI had zeroed in on March 27 as the start date, as per a report by Cricbuzz, Star has requested BCCI to consider advancing the date to March 26. When contacted a BCCI official revealed that a decision on this will be taken soon and the fixture will be released by next week.
IPL 2022: BCCI ‘CONSIDERING’ Star’s request to start IPL 2022 on March 26, IPL schedule to be released by next week
“I cannot reveal the details of the negotiation that is taking place between the BCCI and the broadcaster. But yes, we are still in the discussion to finalise the dates. It will start in the last week of March. The start is still under discussion,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport on Sunday.
IPL 2022: BCCI ‘CONSIDERING’ Star’s request to start IPL 2022 on March 26, IPL schedule to be released by next week
IPL 2022 Start date:
- Star wants to start the IPL on March 26.
- It will allow them three matches in first weekend with a doubleheader on March 27, Sunday.
- BCCI is yet to make a decision on that.
- BCCI is currently negotiating with Star on that matter and the fixtures will be released by next week.
IPL to start on March 26? – However, a move to start IPL 2022 on March 26 can be a win-win situation for both. With March 26 being a Saturday, three matches could be done by the first weekend. Indian players will also be well rested as their series against Sri Lanka gets over by March 16.
IPL 2022: BCCI ‘CONSIDERING’ Star’s request to start IPL 2022 on March 26, IPL schedule to be released by next week
“We understand that a Saturday start helps the broadcaster to kick start the league with a bang with three matches in the first weekend. A Sunday inauguration would not permit that. The BCCI and the broadcasters were in discussion over this and eventually, it could be on March 26,” a franchise official told Cricbuzz.
However, it would mean, Australian players will miss one more match. As Australia’s Pakistan series gets over only on 31 and players will have to enter a five-day quarantine, they can only join by April 6. For English players, who are in the Test squad for West Indies tour, will miss at least first three matches. England’s West Indies series gets over on March 28 and a further five-day quarantine will ensure they also join by April 5.
IPL 2022: BCCI ‘CONSIDERING’ Star’s request to start IPL 2022 on March 26, IPL schedule to be released by next week
Meanwhile, Star has asked the commentators for their availability between March 19 to June 7. All commentators will enter a bio-bubble following a five-day quarantine. Hence, Star has asked them to join by March 19 with the IPL 2022 likely to start on March 26-27.
“At the onset, wanted to check with you on your availability for IPL 2022 on the world feed broadcast. So request you to please provide your availability not only for the tournament but probably say minus 8-10 days from the start date and plus five days from the end date to be safe, so effectively from 19th March 2022 to say June 7, 2022,” Star India said in a mail.
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