India U19 captain Vijay Zol has lent his support to the UAE in their attempts to co-host the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being hugely impressed with the facilities on offer in the Emirates.
The UAE is competing with Bangladesh to host a number of IPL games due to India being unable to stage the whole competition. This is because of the general elections taking place at the same time as the tournament.
Sport360° understands that as many as 30 matches could be held across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and it seems Zol, who recently led India to the quarter-finals of the ICC U19 World Cup in the UAE, feels the country is more than capable of co-hosting the hugely popular competition.
“Everything in the UAE is perfect,” the talented young batsman told Sport360°. “The conditions are fantastic and so is the wicket. It provides help for the bowlers which is great for a T20 format.
“It is a batting heaven for players as well and there is help for spinners and fast bowlers too. All in all, it will benefit all three departments.”
The 19-year-old, who has signed a youth contract with IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore, also believes that holding games in the UAE will be hugely beneficial for the growth of the sport in the region.
“Organising a part of the IPL in the Emirates will be a big boost for both UAE cricket and fans as well because the IPL is a big tournament to host.”
Cricket in the UAE has been on a high since the start of 2014, with the UAE national team qualifying for the ICC World Cup in 2015, receiving ODI status and travelling to Bangladesh to take part in the T20 World Cup.
The UAE also successfully hosted the U19 World Cup, the first ICC tournament to be played in the region, and remains the home for both Pakistan and Afghanistan national teams who have played numerous matches across the country.
It would be a major coup for the UAE to co-host the tournament and it seems they should soon learn their fate as IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal declared on Monday that a final decision should be announced in the next “two to three days”.
The verdict will be confirmed following meetings with India’s home ministry officials as they await the clearance on security issues during the matches in India.
