The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to organise a Mini IPL. Though the board is yet to come up with the timing of the event, UAE is deemed to be the nation which will host the first ever edition of the shortened version of the T20 league.
UAE had earlier hosted IPL in the year 2014 when the first phase of the tournament was staged in the country due to general election in India,
“One concept that we are deliberating and considering is launching a mini edition of the IPL overseas. We have seen that there is a huge attraction for IPL overseas. Earlier, we used to stage our Champions League T20 abroad and that slot is still vacant. We are thinking of a mini edition in that slot,” Rajeev Shukla told Gulf News.
Last year as well, BCCI was mulling to organise the Mini IPL in the month of September in the USA. Though later, there was no progress in plan and the idea to host the tournament was deferred due to oodles of constraints, with the timing of the games being the biggest one. India also played two T20I matches over there against West Indies, where there was a good turnout in the first game but the attendance was not up to the mark in the second washed out T20I, which further raised concerns over staging the league.
A complete home season for Indian team comprising of 13 Test matches later meant that there was no space for any T20 league. (Read Here: Rajeev Shukla To Head BCCI Committee)
The next year’s IPL auction is all set to undergo major changes, as there might be a case when a team may not be allowed to retain any of its players, which will mean that all the players will be in the pool of auction. Along with it, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are all set to make comeback in the T20 league next year. BCCI is yet to come up with any official update regarding IPL and when asked about chances of addition of two more teams in the upcoming season of the lucrative league, Shukla said,
“So far we have decided for eight teams only, otherwise the season will get extended and that will be a problem. If we go for 10 teams, we will have to stage minimum 84 matches. However, the governing council will be considering it but so far the tender will be only for eight teams.”
The chances of BCCI hosting a mini IPL looks slim, as the Indian team is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka next month. Following that, they will face Australia and will also travel South Africa. Going by the schedule, the chances of a mini IPL being played look highly unlikely.
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