IPL 2020 in UAE: Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 will be held from September 19 to November 10 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), subject to clearances from the Indian government, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Sunday. The announcement comes after the IPL 2020 Governing Council meeting was held via teleconference earlier in the day.
Despite being played in the UAE, all evening matches will start at 7:30 pm IST and the afternoon matches, 10 of them, will start at 3:30 pm IST. The 53-day tournament will see player replacements allowed for the first time in its history. “VIVO IPL 2020 will be played from 19th September and the final will be played on 10th November 2020. The 53-day tournament will witness 10-afternoon matches starting at 15:30 IST while the evening matches will start at 19:30 IST,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“The Governing Council also discussed the comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which will be finalized and published in due course, including the agencies to execute and deliver a bio-secure environment for the safe and successful conduct of IPL 2020 Season.”
Franchises will depart to the UAE after August 26 and chartered planes to fly both domestic and overseas players. No crowds will be allowed at the venues in the UAE in the initial phase of the tournament but a limited number of fans may be allowed during the latter stages, subject to UAE government approval.
Franchises will be allowed a 24-player squad and the IPL Governing Council has given the green light for Covid-19 replacements franchises will be allowed to replace a player if he gets unwell during the course of the tournament.
