The Indian Premier League (IPL) has confirmed that the UAE will host the first-leg of this year's IPL with 16 games of the competition being played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Games will be played in the UAE between April 16 – April 30 before the competition moves to either Bangladesh or India for the second stage of IPL 7 from May 1 – May 13. The final stage of this year's IPL will definitely be held in India from May 14 up until the final on June 1.
Through their official Twitter page, the IPL confirmed: "At least 16 matches will be held in the United Arab Emirates, from Wednesday 16th April to Wednesday 30th April #PepsiIPL"
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been making the deicison alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council in a meeting at the Union Home Ministry officials.
IPL 7 was forced to consider venues outside of the country due to Indian voting polls opening in the form of a nine-phase schedule as of April 7 and ending on May 12.
The UAE, South Africa and Bangladesh were all in contention to host IPL matches during the elections that are taking place in India.
Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David East, said: "We are delighted with the BCCI’s decision to choose the United Arab Emirates as a suitable co-host of the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League. The IPL has redefined cricket in the modern era, and to be hosting it in the UAE is a tremendous honour and a privilege for everyone connected to cricket in Emirates.
“This builds on a significant period of growth and development for cricket in this country; that has put us back on the international cricketing map. I have no doubt our world class facilities and excellent infrastructure will ensure that the IPL continues to dazzle cricket lovers in the UAE and around the world.”
ICC chief executive David Richardson was equally pleased with the BCCI's decision and holds similar hopes as East that the game of cricket in the UAE will benefit from the IPL's presence.
“The BCCI’s decision to stage the first part of the IPL 2014 season in the UAE is great news for the people of the UAE and the region," said ICC Richardson. "It will complete a remarkable season of cricket in the UAE, which has already seen the successful staging of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014.
“This news comes on the back of the on-field success of the UAE national team which has qualified for both the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand and has the potential to propel cricket’s profile to new heights in the country.”
BCCI had previously stated that South Africa was its preferred overseas host but it is believed that Cricket South Africa were in favour of hosting the entirety of the tournament rather than a handful of its opening games.
South Africa are the only country to date to have held the IPL other than India, doing so in 2009 when the second edition of the IPL was moved away from India amid security fears and terrorist threats once again around the country hosting general elections.
The UAE has hosted all of Pakistan's internationals since 2009 due to similar security fears while Afghanistan call Sharjah ‘home’ when entertaining their cricketing peers.
