Emirates board seeks approval for fan attendance during Dream 11 IPL

The excitement for the 2020 season of the Dream 11 IPL is slowly bubbling up, with less than a month to go for the tournament. With the times we live in where caution and safety take precedence, the change of venue for the IPL has not in the least dampened the spirits of supporters. The Emirates Cricket Board would be completely justified if they were to hold an IPL behind closed doors, but it appears that they are willing to have some spectators in the stands during the Dream 11 IPL, as understood by a top official having told Reuters.

With the COVID-19 pandemic having gripped India rendering any cricketing activity impossible in the country, the Dream 11 IPL was shifted to the UAE, whilst also taking advantage of the window opened up by the postponement of the ICC T20 World Cup. "As hosts, Emirates Cricket Board will work closely with the authorities to seek approval on what protocols need to be followed, this includes fan attendance," ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani said by email.

Although it would be practically impossible to fill the stadiums, the Emirates board would be happy to see at least a small percentage of the people being able to experience the games live. "We will then discuss with the BCCI (Indian board) to assess their spectator requirements. We want our Asian Diaspora, as well as the other expat and Emirati sports-loving fans to be able to watch the action from the stands,” Usmani added.

The UAE is no stranger to being home to the IPL having hosted the first 20 games of the 2014 edition, and Usmani is confident of pulling off a successful tournament. "Having hosted the 2014 IPL our team is well aware of the requirements to deliver on a successful event," Usmani said. “We have a very capable team who has an exceptionally strong cricket-administration pedigree. We are very confident in delivering a successful tournament,” he concluded. The 2020 edition of the Dream 11 IPL will kick off on the 19th of September and will be played across three venues - Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai, with the final scheduled for 10th November.

[Reuters inputs]