IPL All-Stars Tournament Before IPL 2020, No Change In Match Timings, Confirms Sourav Ganguly

There will be no change in timing for the games in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed on Monday. The tournament will start on March 29 in Mumbai. Contrary to the recent reports, the final of the tournament will be held on May 24 in Mumbai. Recent media reports suggested that the final would be held at the new Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The final decisions regarding the dates, venue and timing were taken at the IPL Governing Council meet in New Delhi on Monday. The governing council and the BCCI office bearers also decided that there will be no change in the timings of the matches.

Quite a number of games had stretched over the stipulated time of three-and-a-half hours last season which caused problems not only for the players as well as fans. The likes of AB de Villiers, Kuldeep Yadav, Tom Moody and Stephen Fleming had voiced their concerns on this issue.

The IPL governing council had then taken the decision to stage the two qualifiers, eliminator and the final at 7:30 pm IST instead of 8:00 pm IST which was the norm during the group games. However, the IPL governing council has decided against changing the 8 PM start for the night games. In another big decision, only five games will have a 4 PM start.

“There will be no change in the timing of IPL night games. It will start from 8 pm like earlier years. There was discussion about 7:30 pm but it’s not happening,” BCCI president Sourav Ganguly told reporters after the meeting. “We will have only five doubleheaders (4 pm and 8 pm) this time. IPL final will be held in Mumbai.”

Among the major changes to the upcoming season of the tournament, concussion substitute and third umpire for no balls will also be introduced.

“The concussion substitute and the no ball rule are new additions for the season,” Ganguly added.

Ganguly also confirmed that there would be an IPL All-Stars tournament that will take place before the IPL. He, however, dismissed the possibility of the tournament being held at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The proceeds from the game will go to a charity.

“It will be an IPL All Stars Game three days before start of IPL. The venue is not Ahmedabad as it is still not match ready. We have not decided on where we will make the donation,” Sourav Ganguly confirmed.

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