IPL 2021: Azharuddin supports Telangana Minister's appeal to BCCI to hold matches in Hyderabad

Azharuddin supported an appeal made by Telangana minister and ruling TRS Working President K T Rama Rao to BCCI and IPL to include Hyderabad as one of the venues.

"I strongly support the appeal by @ktrtrs. Hyderabad is absolutely capable in handling and conducting @IPL as per @BCCI's directives and preparing a bio-secure bubble," Azharuddin tweeted.

I strongly support the appeal by @ktrtrs. Hyderabad is absolutely capable in handling and conducting @IPL as per @BCCI’s directives and preparing a bio-secure bubble https://t.co/h3COGQnRwp

— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) February 28, 2021

Rama Rao, Minister for IT and Municipal Administration, on Sunday (February 28) appealed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include Hyderabad as one of the venues for the upcoming season of IPL 2021.

The BCCI is looking at four to five venues for holding the next edition of the IPL with Mumbai as a single host not looking feasible anymore following a surge in COVID-19 cases in and around the city.

In a tweet, Rao said, "Open appeal to @BCCIand @IPL office bearers to include Hyderabad as one of the venues for upcoming IPL season Our effective COVID containment measures are reflected in our low number of cases among all metro cities in India & we assure you of all support from the Govt."

IPL 2021: BCCI planning to host tournament across six cities, Ahmedabad to host IPL play-off and final: Report

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) recorded 27 new COVID-19 cases out of the 176 reported in Telangana on Saturday (February 27), the state government has said.

The 14th edition of the league is scheduled to start in the second week of April.

The tournament had to be taken to the UAE last year because of the pandemic.