Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings owners Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta. (Photo: Twitter)

Three IPL franchises, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have reportedly expressed their disagreement over the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to hosts the IPL 2021 in six venues – Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, and Ahmedabad and are mulling over the option of having games in Mumbai as well, according to the lockdown situation there.

According to the Times of India, co-owner of the Punjab Kings, Ness Wadia has written a letter to the BCCI demanding an explanation for the same as Punjab, along with Rajasthan and Hyderabad will not be given their home games.

“We have sent the BCCI a query on why we have been excluded. We would like to know the reason. We have also asked for more clarification on how this process works,” TOI quoted Wadia as saying.

BCCI, IPL 2021
BCCI (Image-PTI)

Another franchise official was quoted by Cricbuzz lamenting on the three sides losing their home games and the business which comes along with it.

“We three teams will be badly affected. The teams doing well are the ones who do well at home, win five or six home games and a few away, and that will take you through to the play-offs. Those five teams will have the home advantage, we will have to put up with all away game,” a franchise official said.

The franchises have said that since the last season in its entirety was in the UAE, in the ground of Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, all the stadiums were like away games for all 8 franchises – however, this season, 5 teams will have home advantage and the rest 3 won’t which has lead to the owners’ frustrations.

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Hyderabad asks BCCI to host IPL 2021 matches

Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin. Image-DNA

KT Rama Rao, son of the Telangana’s chief minister, has presented the BCCI with an option to host the games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Former India captain and President of Hyderabad Cricket Association, Mohammad Azharuddin has also supported Rao’s stance and assured them of the bio-bubble protocols to be strictly followed if Hyderabad hosts any games in IPL 2021.

“I strongly support the appeal by @ktrtrs. Hyderabad is absolutely capable in handling and conducting @IPL as per @BCCI’s directives and preparing a bio-secure bubble,” tweeted Azharuddin.

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