The BCCI has received official permission from the Government of India to conduct IPL 2020 in the UAE, tournament chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed to Cricbuzz. The IPL Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development.
“Yes, we have received the government approval,” confirmed Patel. He added that the BCCI would work in tandem with the IPL franchises to make the bio-security arrangements.
“We have already released the SOP (standard operating procedure). They have to follow that. We will also be having a committee (to supervise it),” Patel said.
The tournament which begins from September 19, 2020, will last till November 10, 2020, and will be held in three major cities of the UAE – Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
The eight franchises have started their preparations by initiating quarantine and COVID-19 testing protocols for their players and support staff. Most of the franchises will be flying out after August 20 after two mandatory RT-PCR (COVID-19 tests) conducted within 24 hours from their departure base.
The BCCI is also facing problems on the sponsorship front after calling off the title deal with Chinese mobile phone company VIVO for the current year due to massive public outrage over the India-China border stand-off.
“It is not a setback (VIVO pulling out). There is already a lot of interest (for title rights). Whether an Indian company or from anywhere else, whoever bids the most gets the rights. We will finalise the whole process by August 18,” Patel said.