Days after IPL 2021 was postponed amid the COVID19 surge in the country, BCCI got three suggestion for a venue to come over with planning phase 2 of IPL. 3 options arising as of now to continue the tournament in UAE like last year or in the UK continuing the England tour or in Australia making settlement for a host of the 2022 edition, which is scheduled in Australia for now.
Hampshire Boss: IPL Tournament In UK Will Be Illegal
The United Kingdom emerged to be one of the front-runners to host but Hampshire county’s boss has said that it is illegal to host IPL 2021 in England. As per reports, several English counties have written to ECB for extending the invitation to BCCI for hosting the remainder of the IPL 2021 in September.
However, in the latest turn of events, hosting IPL 2021 in the UK has been ruled out. Counties like MCC, Surrey, Warwickshire, and Lancashire proposed the plan of completing the remaining IPL 2021 in two weeks in September. But Hampshire boss has stated that staging the tournament in the UK will be illegal. Meanwhile, ECB and MCC haven’t made any specific comment on whether they will be able to host the tournament. The Chief Executive Committee too met at ICC and IPL was understandably not on their agenda.
“I did hear about the discussion but I am not sure how it can happen. As per the current arrangement, it will be illegal to host the IPL here,” said Hampshire county boss as quoted by Cricbuzz.
UAE is also in the running to host the tournament having successfully hosted the last edition of IPL. They can emerge as the top-runner considering that BCCI is also planning to host the T20 World Cup right after IPL 2021 in the UAE. The BCCI which is looking at a huge loss, now wants the tournament to happen in late September just before the ICC World T20.
Post-IPL, BCCI will have a huge question on where to host the T20I World Cup since it looks next to impossible for it happening in India with rising of COVID-19 cases.
