IPL: BCCI exploring a September-October window

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating the month-long window, between the end of India’s series in England in September and the T20 World Cup commencement in October, to stage the remaining portion of the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL).

The BCCI is set to discuss the rescheduled IPL, moving the T20 World Cup to United Arab Emirates and the forthcoming international series in a Special General Body meeting on May 29. Ahead of the meeting, IPL executives are working overtime to present viable options to the board.

The most practicable option being considered at the moment is to play the remaining IPL matches from September 20 and end it at least 10 days ahead of the tentative beginning of the T20 World Cup from October 22.

Quarantine issue

If both the tournaments are organised in UAE, the BCCI can save on quarantine requirements. An IPL franchise official confirmed that the BCCI is in “informal discussion” with the franchises about the re-jigged IPL.

The plan that’s being discussed now is to stage the remaining 31 matches in 21 days, including 10 double-headers, starting around September 20.

“If the authorities in UAE relax quarantine norms for cricketers flying in from biosecure bubbles, only then can the tournament actually be played with a majority of top players being available,” said a franchise official.

With the BCCI having been unable to convince its England counterpart in rescheduling the five-Test series, the series in England is scheduled to be over on September 14. The Caribbean Premier League is scheduled to get over on September 19.

The BCCI will also have to consider whether top international cricketers will be made available for the tournament due to extreme toll that the UAE heat will take on the cricketers’ bodies ahead of the World Cup.