The BCCI has received the central government’s formal approval to conduct this year’s IPL in the UAE, IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel revealed on Monday. The IPL will be held in the UAE from September 19 to November 10 in three cities — Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The government had last week given an “in principle” go-ahead to the BCCI to shift the marquee league to the UAE due to rising cases of Covid-19 in the country.
“Yes, we have received all the written approvals,” Patel told PTI when asked whether the permission has come in writing from both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). When an Indian sports body shifts a domestic tournament abroad, it requires clearance from Home, External and sports ministries respectively.
“Once we had the verbal okay from the government, we had intimated the Emirates Cricket Board. Now we have the papers also, so franchises can be intimated that everything is in order,” a veteran BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Most of the franchises will be flying out after August 20 after two mandatory RT-PCR (COVID-19 tests) conducted within 24 hours from their departure base.
The Chennai Super Kings players and staff, who are leaving on August 22, will have a small camp at the Chepauk on the insistence of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Following Vivo’s exit as title sponsors, BCCI is in a soup regarding sponsorship for the 2020 season of the mega cash rich league. Today, FMCG company Patanjali has expressed interest to sponsor the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League. This idea gives further impetus to the vocal for local movement that has been rampant through this year.
This evening, BCCI has gone out and officially invited Expressions Of Interest for IPL 2020 title sponsorship rights. According to this, the company bidding has to have an annual minimum turnover of 300 Crores. Last date is 14 August with final bids of eligible parties to be finalised 18th of August.
