UAE and South Africa could be in running to host 2019 edition of the IPL

Sport360 staff 21:15 09/01/2018
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  • Abu Dhabi could be in the running to host a few IPL matches in 2019.

    With India set to go for general elections in 2019, the Indian Premier League (IPL) faces the possibility of being moved out of the country. The IPL has previously been held overseas during 2009 in South Africa while some matches of the 2014 editions had to be held in the UAE.

    The 2019 edition faces the possibility of clashing with the general elections and as such, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) are said to be drawing up contingency plans.

    According to a report in the Times of the India, the BCCI is currently exploring the options of both South Africa and the UAE as the destination for 2019 depending on when the elections are called.

    Providing security for elections and the IPL simultaneously has been a logistical nightmare for the Indian administration and therefore a partial clash of the two could see the even shifted to the UAE while a complete clash could bring South Africa into play again.

    With the 2019 ICC World Cup set to start on May 30 and continue until mid-July, the governing body faces the added headache of complying with the Lodha Panel’s recommendation of maintaining a 15-day window between the IPL and the global event.

    South Africa had played host to the event in 2009.

    South Africa had played host to the event in 2009.

    The BCCI are praying that the general elections are called much earlier than usual in 2019 so as to host the competition in its entirety at home.

    Another option for the organisers could be England if the situation does arise. The country had been in the running to host the IPL in 2009 before losing out to South Africa. With the World Cup set to take place in England and India’s tour of the country starting in July, the BCCI could be tempted to see it as a favourable destination for more than one reason.

    It would provide the Indian stars with the perfect preparation for the global event while also getting acclimatised for the Tests, ODIs and T20Is to come from July onwards.

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