IPL To Start On September 19, Final To Be Played On November 8: Report
Jul 24, 2020 at 10:18 AM
The much-awaited IPL 2020 will reportedly start on September 19 with the final slated on November 8. The thirteenth edition of the tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates. The BCCI’s path to host the tournament was cleared earlier this week when the ICC finally announced the postponement of this year’s T20 World Cup.
The tournament was scheduled to be held in October-November in Australia. However, the governing body of the game had to cancel the tournament due to the prevailing conditions. The BCCI will now use that window for IPL 2020. Earlier reports suggested that the tentative window for this year’s IPL is September 26 – November 8.
However, a BCCI official has stated that the board has advanced the starting date by a week. The BCCI has informally intimated the franchises about the plan.
“IPL in all likelihood will start on September 19 (Saturday) and the final will be held on November 8 (Sunday). It is a 51-day window which will suit the franchises as well as the broadcasters and other stakeholders,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.
The official further explained the reason behind changing the starting date for the IPL. He stated that the BCCI decided to advance it by a week in order to ensure that the Indian team’s tour of Australia is not jeopardised.
“The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per Australian government rules. A delay would have sent the plans haywire.
“The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and there will be much less double headers. We could stick to original five double headers in seven week window,” the official said.
Team India is scheduled to visit Australia later this year for a four-match Test series. Virat Kohli & Co. will leave for Australia right after the IPL ends.