Jay Shah, the secretary of BCCI, confirmed that the entire IPL 2024 season will be held in India, shutting down rumors of a relocation to the UAE due to upcoming elections.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has definitively shut down speculation regarding the potential relocation of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This comes after rumors gained traction due to the announcement of only the first 21 games in the initial IPL schedule and the upcoming general elections in India.
Concerns arose that the multi-phase elections, beginning April 19th, might clash with the latter stages of the IPL, requiring a venue shift. Reports suggested BCCI officials were exploring the possibility of hosting the IPL’s second half in the UAE.
However, both the BCCI and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) have swiftly denied these claims. A source close to the ECB stated, “We have been together since morning today after the ICC meeting, and there was no such interest shown by the BCCI officials.” The BCCI officials were reportedly in Dubai for an ICC meeting and the topic of IPL relocation was not brought up by either party.
Putting all speculation to rest, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah issued a clear statement, saying, “No, it won’t be moved overseas,” as quoted by Cricbuzz. This confirmed that the entire IPL season will be held in India, as planned.
The decision to keep the IPL in India came despite previous instances where the tournament was shifted due to similar reasons. In the past, elections and logistical challenges forced the IPL to be held in the UAE and South Africa. However, this year, the BCCI is confident about conducting the entire event within India.
The full IPL schedule will be released soon, with only the dates for the first 21 games (March 22nd to April 7th) confirmed till now. The announcement of the remaining fixtures will likely come after the Election Commission of India finalizes the polling schedule. The opening match will see the Chennai Super Kings host the Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22nd.
Last Updated on March 16, 2024
