Broadcaster, Franchises Unhappy With BCCI's Tentative Schedule For IPL 2020

The Indian Premier League (IPL) finally has a tentative date. After a lot of speculations, IPL looks set to be played in the UAE this year. As per reports, the thirteenth edition of the tournament will be played between September 26 (a Saturday) and conclude on November 8 (Sunday).

IPL 2020 was originally scheduled to take place between March 29 and May 17. However, the BCCI had to suspend the league indefinitely in the light of the pandemic. But the tournament now looks set to be played in the UAE between September and October.

Broadcasters and franchises unhappy:

Broadcaster Star India and the franchises are reportedly not very impressed with the tentative IPL schedule. According to a report in The Times of India, the broadcaster and the franchises have reservations about this ‘constricted scheduling’.

The report stated that Star wants to make optimum use of the Diwali week in a bid to rake in advertisements in these lean times. Diwali is on November 14, a Saturday, and Star wants the IPL to conclude that weekend. The parties which are opposing BCCI’s timetable of 44 days, 60 matches are of the opinion that the constricted schedule will mean more afternoon matches, which would affect visibility and ratings.

As far as the BCCI is concerned, it wants to end the IPL as early as possible in November due to India’s tour of Australia which starts from December 3.

“If the IPL concludes by November 8, the team can fly to Australia by the 10th, undergo the mandatory Covid tests and start with practice and warm-up matches so that the first Test can begin as scheduled. Also, India might want to play a day-night warm-up game ahead of the proposed day-night Test, and that will add days to the schedule,” a BCCI official told the news outlet.

Meanwhile, the final IPL dates are likely to be made public soon after the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally announces the postponement of this year’s T20 World Cup. The ICC is likely to announce the decision today after its meeting.

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