Reports: IPL 2021 To Resume On The 19th Of September; CSK vs MI To Kickstart The Leg In Dubai

The second phase of IPL 2021 will begin on the 19th of September in the UAE if sources are to be believed. Fierce rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to kickstart the remaining 31 matches of the cash-rich league at the Dubai International Stadium. Only 29 fixtures were possible in the initial phase as the COVID-19 outbreak breached the bio-bubble.

The BCCI held a special Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May and announced that the second phase of IPL 2021 would take place in the UAE. The Indian cricket board revealed they decided to shift it to the UAE, given the monsoons in India during September and October.

The BCCI had to postpone the 14th edition of the lucrative tournament as the deadly second outbreak of the COVID-19 breached through the bubble. The likes of Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Tim Seifert, and Michael Hussey tested positive for COVID-19.

It emerged that the BCCI stood to lose over 2000 crores of the broadcast and sponsorship money following the midway postponement of the edition. Three venues in the UAE – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah would host the remaining 31 fixtures of the tournament, with Dubai to stage the final on the 15th of October.

The decision to postpone IPL 2021 was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind: BCCI

After officially postponing IPL 2021, BCCI stated that in consultation with the IPL Governing Council, they decided to take the action. The board refuses to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff, and the other stakeholders as their well-being came first.

“The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind,” the BCCI stated.

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