IPL To Return In The UAE As T20 World Cup Remains In Doubt

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) season will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September and October, after suspending the season earlier this month.

The BCCI said in a statement the decision was made at a special general meeting held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume the IPL.

The 2021 IPL season was suspended due to several players and backroom staff testing positive for COVID-19 as well as the current state of India with COVID-19 infections.

India currently has a 7-day average of 194,953 COVID-19 cases and reached as high as 414,188 new daily cases as it deals with a new coronavirus strain in the country.

The UAE will once again serve as the hosts for the IPL, having hosted the competition last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in India.

Australian cricketers, support staff, and broadcasters are soon to finish their mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney after they left India earlier this month.

Australia’s cricket team currently do not have any international commitments in September or October but it will remain to be seen whether players agree to participate in the IPL this season.

However, Australian IPL players such as David Warner and Glenn Maxwell are set to play in English 100-ball cricket competition, The Hundred, this year with the competition finishing in late August.

The BCCI have also asked for an extension of time from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the decision on the hosting of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.

The cup was set to take place in India last year but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the UAE serving as a contingency if India cannot host the world cup this year.