Indian T20 League chairman Brijesh Patel has said that the BCCI is waiting for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make an official announcement on the T20 World Cup before going ahead with the tournament.
He said that they are tentatively looking at the September-October window for the tournament.
"We are ready to go ahead with the Indian T20 League. But we can start planning the schedule formally only after the official announcement is made on the T20 World Cup, which I'm expecting will arrive anytime soon. On our part, we've already earmarked the September-October window for the tournament to be played," Patel told Times of India.
"Right now, we're saying it's tentative because finalities of the schedule can only be worked out once official confirmations arrive. Talks are going on with the league's multiple stakeholders and we're all on board. So, it's a matter of time before we start putting things in place."
Patel also said that the governing body is duly assessing the situation regarding the global pandemic, and if needed, it won’t mind ‘shifting the Indian T20 League to another country’. In that sense, both the Emirates Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket have offered a stage.
'Won't mind shifting the Indian T20 League to another country'
"We have to watch how things are going to play out over the next one month from a pandemic perspective. We don't mind shifting the Indian T20 League to another country, either in part or in full. There are other aspects to be considered here," he said.
"Suppose we shift just the first leg out of the country, we will have to go through quarantine when we fly there. But we may probably also have to go through another quarantine when we're back for the India leg if the pandemic doesn't relent. Or who knows, by October things will be different. Let's see. Right now, we're not ruling out the idea of playing the whole tournament overseas."
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He also added that the weather conditions are also taken into consideration, and the tournament ‘won't be played at more than two or three venues’.
"If the Indian T20 League has to begin in September, there'll be a threat of monsoon. Whatever the case, logistics will have to be worked out carefully. Whether in India or overseas, the tournament won't be played at more than two or three venues because it's only for television," he said.
"Also remember, wherever the Indian T20 League is played, it'll be played to empty stands. So, as long as it's available prime time for Indian fans, it shouldn't be a problem."
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe
