Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will meet on September 19 in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), according to Indian Express. The league was suspended earlier this year after the COVID-19 second wave.
As part of the remaining matches of this season, Dubai will conduct the first match. In the remaining 31 matches, three venues will be used – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah – with Dubai hosting the final on October 15. The first qualifier will be held in Dubai on October 10, whereas the eliminator and second qualifier will be held in Sharjah on October 11 and 13 respectively. A number of players and support staff tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year, forcing BCCI to postpone the IPL.
After the season was halted, the BCCI had in a press release stated, “The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect…The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organizing the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind.”
According to reports, after the midseason postponement of the season, the BCCI is likely to lose over Rs 2000 crore of broadcast and sponsorship money. In a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the BCCI earlier, it was decided that the pending matches would be played in the United Arab Emirates.
After the meeting, the BCCI in a press release said: “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.”
