Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Expresses Interest to Host IPL 2020
Scheduled to start from March 29, the 13th season of the much-loved sports extravaganza, the Indian Premier League (IPL) could not take place due to the spread of Coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide lockdown. The fate of IPL 2020 is undecided yet, but taking into consideration the huge fan following of the event in the country and overseas, cricket associations and boards from across the world have showcased their interest in hosting the IPL 2020.
Earlier, Sri Lankan Cricket Board had expressed their interest in hosting the 13th season of the IPL; and now recently the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has expressed their interest to host the IPL 2020 in case the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) decides to take the game abroad.
ECB and IPL History
In 2014, the ECB had hosted the first phase of the cash-rich tournament in India. The event had turned out to be spectacular and had gained praises from all over the world. As per the ECB, they are well aware of the requisites for organising a prestigious event like the IPL, and they also have a lot of experience of hosting a variety of bilateral as well as multi-national tournaments, as a neutral host.
The secretary of the ECB, Mubashir Usmani, said, “We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past.” He also added that “Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities make the Emirates a desired place for hosting all types of cricket. As per Usmani, The ECB will show no hesitation in hosting the 13th season of the IPL.
The ICC to Decide Priority of Events
International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member boards are working towards getting international cricket back on track, however, things still seem to be dicey. The T20 World Cup scheduled for this October in Australia might also get cancelled due to the pandemic.
The final verdict on what happens with IPL 2020 will be decided after ICC and BCCI take a stand between the two tournaments, IPL 2020 and T20 World Cup. If ICC calls off the T20 World Cup, then BCCI gets the chance to organize the cash-rich tournament in October and November.