The remaining matches of the Indian T20 League 2021 are set to be played in the United Arab Emirates between September and October. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will make the official announcement on May 29 after their Special General Meeting.
The BCCI had postponed the Indian T20 League indefinitely after 29 matches earlier this month amidst rising cases of COVID-19 inside the bio-bubble. As things stand, while there has been no official communication between the BCCI and ECB, the former wants to reduce the number of days between the second and third Test match of India’s tour of England. Currently, there is a nine-day gap between the two games.
“If that gap can be reduced to four, it will allow BCCI five extra days to make use of,” a source was quoted saying by the TOI.
He said that the remaining 31 matches would be played across eight doubleheaders over four weekends.
“If we can have those extra days eked out from the India-England schedule, then it adds to the window. If not, then within these 30 days, a full day will have to be set aside for the Indian team and English cricketers to travel from the UK to the UAE; five days will have to be set aside for the knockouts later.
“That will leave the BCCI with 24 days to conclude 27 matches. This window has four weekends available, which means a total of eight Saturdays and Sundays for doubleheaders that can accommodate 16 matches. That will leave the BCCI with 11 matches to be held in 19 days. That’s a week extra,” the source added.
Another issue here is the 2021 T20 World Cup, which begins on October 18. The BCCI, however, believe that since not every team will feature in the playoff rounds, several players can return to their national team duties post the league stage games.
"The Indian T20 League will, in fact, be the perfect platform to warm up for the ICC event," sources said.
"The International Cricket Council (ICC) is watching this space with keen interest and will not interfere with the logistics as long as it does not conflict with the World Cup window.
Featured photo: Twitter / IPL
