As expected, the remaining 31 matches of the VIVO IPL 2021 will be played in the United Arab Emirates, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Saturday (May 29, 2021).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has formally decided at its special general meeting that the remaining part of the Indian Premier League will be held in the United Arab Emirates. The board decided to hold the remaining matches of the IPL in September and October considering the monsoon season in India in those months.
“The decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume IPL.”
IPL 2021 was postponed on 4th May as the second wave of COVID-19 spread rapidly across India. As a result, several players and supporters of some teams were infected with Covid-19.
KKR’s match with RCB was cancelled on 3 May after two Kolkata Knight Riders players Varun Chakraborty and Sandeep Warrior were affected in COVID-19.
The match between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians also suspended on 4th May due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After this, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad players and supporters continued to be infected by the virus, which led to the complete suspension of the IPL.
As a result, BCCI postponed the remaining matches of VIVO IPL 2021.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced to complete the remaining matches of VIVO Indian Premier League 2021 season in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) considering the monsoon season in India in the months of September-October this year.”
“The BCCI SGM further authorised the Office Bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021.”
However, the biggest obstacle to rescheduling the tournament is the lack of foreign players. The England and Wales Cricket Board has already stated that they will not release their players to play in the incomplete IPL. Cricket Australia has not yet made a decision on their behalf.
The BCCI has decided that franchises will be asked to rearrange their line-up with new players from both India and abroad.
