The BCCI is looking to host the remaining 31 IPL matches in UAE in the September-October window after the conclusion of India’s tour of England later this year. The board may finalise the window to complete the remainder of IPL 2021 in its upcoming Special General Meeting on May 29.
With the IPL 2021 suspended, a lot of speculation is being made regarding the next step for the BCCI with respect to the rescheduling of the Indian Premier League 2021.
India will start its UK tour from June 18 when it plays New Zealand in the final of the ICC World Test Championship after that India will take on England in a five-match Test series starting August 4.
The tour concludes on September 14 leaving BCCI a realistic window between September 15 to October 15.
While BCCI hasn’t placed a formal request with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) yet, it’s been speculated that it may ask the gap between the 2nd Test and the third Test between the two teams to be reduced from nine days to four which will give the Indian cricket board more time to work with.
If IPL 2021 is resumed in this window, it will only be possible after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup which will be played between October 18 and November 15. However, the BCCI is yet to provide any confirmation regarding the final start date of the tournament.
The BCCI is also planning to conduct the second phase with the involvement of overseas players and plans to fly out English cricketers from UK to UAE.
The BCCI also thinks that the IPL will serve as a perfect platform for the warm up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that India is expected to host from the second half of October 2021.
As there is ICC Test Championship and ICC T20 World Cup to take place in 2021, BCCI is finding it difficult to get a slot for the remaining matches of IPL. The BCCI President has already said that the IPL governing council will have to discuss with boards of other countries and see if a window can be made available for hosting the 31 matches left, before the T20 World Cup.