Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings receive bad news with regards to their departure date for the UAE hosted IPL 2020

BCCI has told franchises that teams can only leave for the UAE after August 20.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly told all the IPL franchises that no team can fly to the UAE before August 20 for the upcoming tournament. The thirteenth edition of the competition will get underway on September 19 with the final set to take place on November 10, the IPL Governing Council confirmed on Sunday.

Recent reports suggested that last year’s finalists – Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – were looking to leave for Abu Dhabi around August 10 or 12. However, the BCCI’s latest decision has forced them to change their plans. A franchise official has said that the IPL GC has sent in a mail which has clearly told them that the teams can leave for UAE not before August 20.

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“We have been informed by a mail from the IPL GC that we can leave for UAE after August 20. So, there is no question of anyone going there before that. The diktat is pretty clear here,” the official was quoted as saying by IANS.

While the BCCI has issued the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to the state associations for the resumption of cricket on Sunday, the IPL teams are yet to receive it. The franchises are expecting to get it soon so that they can start their final preparations for the competitipn.

“We have not got the SOPs yet, but we have been given the go-ahead to start preparation and the visa process will start from tomorrow onward. The hotels have already been blocked so that is no issue. The blueprints are ready,” the franchise official said.

With the entire world reeling from the effects of the novel Coronavirus, the 2020 IPL season finally beginning seems to bring with it some signs of relief. In a post-Covid world with new normals, this IPL has been touted as having the potential of being one of the most viewed seasons since its inception. The mega cash rich league is nothing short of a cricketing festival. With its return finally in sights after a 6 month suspension, players and fans are eagerly waiting to watch the first ball of the 2020 season be bowled.