IPL 2024: File photo of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah© AFP
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed in an interview that the Indian Premier League (IPL) will not be moved abroad. This comes after reports claimed that part of the cash-rich T20 competition could be shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the general elections in India. The dates for the general election were announced on Saturday. After announcing the election date, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in an interview that IPL would not be rescheduled.
“No, it will not be moved abroad,” Shah told Cricbuzz on Saturday. The elections will be held from April 19 to June 4. The IPL starts on March 22 with a match in Chennai between MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. So far the dates of the first two weeks have been announced.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal on Saturday also dismissed speculation that the league would be shifted to the UAE due to the upcoming general elections in the country between April 19 and June 1. There were endless rumors that the IPL would be shifted to the Emirates due to the elections. which will take place in seven phases, with posts filling social media about players being asked to deposit their passports with the respective franchises.
However, Dhumal set the record straight. “The IPL is not being rescheduled anywhere. We will announce the remaining matches soon,” Dhumal told PTI.
The schedule for the first two weeks has already been released, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings set to take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at home on March 22.
In earlier conversations with PTI, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had categorically maintained that the entire tournament will be held in India like in 2019, the year of the previous Lok Sabha elections. They were just waiting for the Election Commission to announce the election dates.
However, during the 2014 general elections when the UPA government was in power, the league was moved out of the country. The first phase was then held in the UAE before returning to India for the second phase.
With PTI inputs
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