UAE Is The Best Place To Host IPL 2020: Former IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla
Aug 7, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Former IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla is assured that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be successful in conducting the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in the UAE. The much-awaited league is scheduled to begin on 19th September while the grand finale will be played on 10th November.
Earlier, IPL was scheduled to start from 29th March but the coronavirus outbreak had postponed it indefinitely. The BCCI found the window to reorganise the league after ICC postponed the T20 World Cup 2020 which was scheduled in November-October.
However, IPL is not organised in India due to a surge in positive cases. Notably, for the second time, the whole T20 league will be played in a foreign land, last time South Africa hosted it in 2009.
The UAE has also hosted the early stages of the league in 2014 when India was busy in the general election.
However, Rajeev Shukla is confident that BCCI would not face any problem in hosting IPL in UAE. He added that the Indian board would fulfil the promise to entertain the fans.
“UAE gives good response and also broadcast timing fits for India as per time difference. UAE is the best place for IPL,” Shukla told ANI.
When asked whether the event will be successful, he said, “There is no doubt about it. BCCI’s commitment with all cricket fans of conducting IPL every year, this will also be fulfilled.”
Rajeev Shukla was the chairman of IPL when the league was surrounded by the allegations of match-fixing allegations. He had resigned from the post in 2013 but again joined the post in 2015.
Currently, Brijesh Patel is the IPL chairman who has been delivering official news on hosting of the league.
Rajeev Shukla remark on VIVO pulling out the partnership:
Shukla also commented on VIVO suspending its sponsorship with BCCI. He added that according to the current circumstances, the board has taken the right decision.
“Vivo and BCCI have mutually decided to suspend Vivo’s sponsorship for this season. It will impact revenue and that would be a problem but our prime focus is to start cricket, priority is to start cricket. 182 countries watch cricket. To start cricket this has been done,” Rajeev Shukla said.
Shukla further added, “Keeping in the mind current atmosphere, current environment, current perception this decision has been taken which is fully correct and we endorse that.”
After tensions flared up at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between Indian and Chinese troops last month, there were calls for boycotting Chinese products in the country.