IPL likely to be held in September-October

Preparations for conducting the IPL in September-October will get underway after the International Cricket Council has taken a formal call on the T20 World Cup. Speaking to the Times of India, IPL governing council chairman, Brijesh Patel, also confirmed that the tournament will be held behind closed doors.

Earlier, the ICC in a meeting on 10th June deferred the decision to take a call on the T20 World Cup to July.

“We are ready to go ahead with the IPL. 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,” said Brijesh Patel.

The board, according to Patel, is already in talks with different stakeholders and it’s only a matter of time before they start putting things in place.

“Right now, we're saying it's tentative because finalities of 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 said.

Patel also confirmed that the board is open to shifting the tournament completely or partially outside India, depending on how things pan out in days to come.

“Suppose we shift just the first leg out of the country, we will have to go through a 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 COVID 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," he added.

Given the fact that India are scheduled to tour Australia starting November, the only window available for the BCCI is September-October.

The Governing Council chairman also said that the tournament will be played at just two-three venues, catering to the fact that it is only for television. Since the tournament will be held behind closed doors, the focus of the board is to ensure that it’s held during prime time for the Indian audience.

"If the IPL 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.”

With the BCCI making it clear that its planning to host the tournament this year, it remains to be seen how soon the ICC reaches a decision to pave the way for the return of the IPL.