IPL 2021 New Schedule Prepared, Tournament To Resume From The 3rd Week Of September: Reports

There has been a massive development in the resumption of IPL 2021 as now some reports have emerged suggesting that IPL 2021 will resume in the third week of September. Notably, IPL 2021 was suspended after 29 matches of breath-taking cricket due to a COVID-19 explosion in multiple franchises.

First up, two KKR players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive for COVID. Later on, three support staff members from Kolkata Knight Riders also tested positive. DC’s Amit Mishra and SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha tested positive for COVID-19 the following day, bringing the tournament to a standstill.

IPL 2021 New Schedule Prepared, Tournament To Resume From The 3rd Week Of September: Reports

Ever since the suspension of IPL 2021, the BCCI has been in constant efforts to resume the tournament as early as possible. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has already made it clear that the tournament will not resume in India due to complex logistical systems. Now, there has been a massive development in the resumption of the league.

“The BCCI has spoken to all the stakeholders and the likely start could be between September 18th to 20th. Since September 18 is a Saturday and 19 a Sunday, it is more likely that you would want to re-start it on a weekend date,” a BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“Similarly, October 9th or 10th will be the final as it’s a weekend. We are finalising the itinerary and there will be 10 double headers and seven evening matches along with four main games (two qualifiers, one eliminator and the final), which completes the list of 31 matches,” the official added.

India And England Players To Make A Bubble To Bubble Transfer

Notably, the India National Cricket Team is slated to take on England in a five-match Test series which will commence from August 04. The final day of the last Test of the series is scheduled on September 14. Now, the reports suggest that on the next day, the whole team (save Hanuma Vihari and Abhimanyu Easwaran) will be flown to UAE in a chartered flight for a ‘bubble to bubble’ transfer.

“The Indian team and the English players who will be available will fly in the same charter flight from Manchester to Dubai. Similarly, the West Indies players will also fly in after completing the Caribbean Premier League engagements. There will be three-day quarantine for players arriving from the UK and the Caribbean,” the source said.

A franchise official confirmed that communication from BCCI has come on the matter.

“We have been told by the BCCI to be ready for the tournament. We have been given a September 15 to 20 window,” a team official said.

The Indian Cricket Team meanwhile, has begun its quarantine in India to fly to the United Kingdom on June 02 for the final of the ICC World Test Championship which will take place against New Zealand from June 18-June 22  at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Southampton. Meanwhile, a second-string Indian team will fly to Sri Lanka in July for a three-match ODI, and a three-match T20I series.