IPL franchises may request for special arrangements in the UAE

By K.R. Nayar 

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are keen to ensure safety of their players and support staff and are hence requesting for special arrangements at all UAE venues of the league. Informal discussions on whether a one-month training camp before the start of the league should be held in the UAE or in India have also been held. The start time for two-header match days will also be announced soon. 

All Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are set to request for special safety arrangements for their players and support staff during their stay in the UAE for the league set to be held from September 19 to November 8, 2020. According to a source in India, some of their requirements have already been discussed with a few officials of the IPL Governing Council.

In the light of these informal discussions, franchise representatives are likely to examine all venues in the UAE that will stage the matches. They have mentioned that they will seek approval from experts on safety measures at the venues. Whenever the UAE has staged leagues besides the IPL like the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Afghanistan Premier League (APL), some of the best medical experts were hired to be present at the venue. This was meant only for emergencies during the match, especially to treat injuries. It is likely that IPL officials may initially bring in their own medical experts to the different venues to suggest the safety measures. 

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is yet to be officially intimated about the hosting of the event since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will do that only after the Indian government officially grants approval for the league to be held abroad.

 RCB skipper Virat Kohli and CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni

As per some initial information received by some of the IPL franchises, by mid-August, players will have to attend a one month training camp in the UAE. However, as per the latest information,  the training camp for the entire IPL will now be held in Ahmedabad, after which all teams will together fly in a chartered flight to the UAE from there. This will act like a one month quarantine for the teams and support staff in India, before arriving in the UAE for the event.

Some team owners are also considering getting their players tested periodically while in the UAE.  However, that will be done only if the number of coronavirus cases escalates in the region. As of now, there is significant drop in the number of positive cases here. Ever since the opening of the UAE borders, tourists arriving here have expressed their happiness with the safety measures being followed in the malls and other public places. The no- quarantine policy for those who carry a negative test result is likely to attract many cricket lovers into the country during the IPL.

The next IPL governing council meeting is now scheduled  to be probably held on  August 1,  and in that meeting all requests from the teams for special arrangements in the UAE will be discussed. 

Issues like whether there should be double headers (two matches a day), and if so then what would be the starting time, will all be clarified. The team franchises have also suggested that considering the hot weather in the UAE even during September, matches should begin only by late evening. However, if two matches are to be played in a day, then the second match will finish very late and that could be uncomfortable for both players as well as television viewers in India. A likely start of 4pm UAE time (IST 5.30pm ), and the second match to start by 8pm (9.30 IST) is being discussed.

MI captain Rohit Sharma and DC skipper Shreyas Iyer 

IPL team owners believe that this  edition of the league will break all IPL television viewership records since cricket fans around the world have been starved of watching cricket, especially the T20 format.  Discussions are on as to whether a virtual commentary should be introduced for this edition with top cricketers commentating from their home. This can help commentators from not having to travel to UAE. 

The South African cricket board has already permitted their players to travel and play in the UAE, but other boards are yet to give approval to their players. 


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