The Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly has reached Dubai to take stock of the situation and preparations for the Indian Premier League 2020.
The former India captain has been instrumental in ensuring that the Indian Premier League Season 13 takes place in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had mobilised forces to stage the IPL 2020 in the UAE much before the Union of India had give a formal nod to shift the cash rich league out of India.
However, this is the first time that Ganguly will be visiting the UAE in connection with the IPL 2020.
Ganguly, before boarding the aircraft, had shared on his social media handles that it was his first flight to Dubai in six month.
“My first flight in 6 months to dubai for IPL…crazy life changes,” Ganguly posted on his Instagram handle with a picture in which he is wearing a mask and face shield, part of the Standard Operating Procedure while flying amid the pandemic
The BCCI was able to create a window for the IPL following the postponement of the T20 World Cup in Australia, scheduled for October-November
The Board would have faced a revenue loss of ₹4,000 crore if the tournament, which usually takes place in April-May, had not got the go ahead, national news agency PTI has reported.
IPL chairman Brijesh Patel is among the other key officials who are already in Dubai. The tournament will be played with strict health safety protocols in place.
Fans will not be allowed inside stadiums when the league starts but some crowd might be approved in the later stages of the tournament after a review of the Covid-19 situation
The event will be played at three venues – Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi – from September 19 to November 10.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings in the opening match, which will also be a repeat of the last year’s final.