Is IPL outside India a possibility?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is discussing, amid other options, the possibility to hold the Indian Premier League outside India. However, taking the tournament outside the country is being seen as their last resort.

"The board is looking at all options. If it comes to taking IPL out of India, it may happen but as the last option. If that's the only option then we will consider it. We have done it in the past also and we can do it again but the first preference will be to host it in India," news agency ANI quoted a BCCI source.

The 2020 edition of the league was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was scheduled to kick off from 29th March. If the BCCI decides to shift the tournament abroad, it will be third such occasion. In 2009, the tournament was held in South Africa while parts of the tournament in 2014 were staged in UAE. On both occasions, the call was made due to the General Election in the country.

However, nothing has been finalized for this edition yet and the board is awaiting clarity over T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be played between October 18 to November 15 in Australia. The International Cricket Council is likely to take a call over the matter on June 10.

"We will await for clarity over T20 World Cup from ICC before discussing anything further. But I can tell that as of now no decision has been taken," the source said.