BCCI Favour 8 PM Start Timings For IPL 2023 Matches; Afternoon Games To Begin At 4 PM

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed all the prospective bidders for the media rights of next cycle of IPL (2023-27) that its preferred timings for matches will start at 8 PM in the evening.

The Indian board also mentioned not to conduct too many double-header matches but the afternoon game must start at 4 PM.

BCCI prefers start times for double-headers being 4 PM and 8 PM IST

Currently, all the evening matches begin at 7:30 PM, and the afternoon fixtures at 3:30 PM.

“BCCI’s preferred start times for double-headers being 4 pm and 8 pm Indian Standard Time (IST),” the BCCI said in a communique to the prospective bidders for IPL broadcasting rights for the next cycle, as per a report by Cricbuzz.

The BCCI is aiming to go back to its previous slot timings which was the case for more than a decade. Since IPL 2020 (played in UAE) the schedule was revised and the matches started at 7:30 PM.

BCCI extends date for ITT document purchase

The BCCI also extended the date to purchase the Invitation To Tender (ITT) document by 10 days further.

The ITT document is worth INR 25 lakhs and is non-refundable. Earlier the Indian board had set May 10 as the final date for the ITT document.

“Pursuant to requests from various interested parties, BCCI has now decided to further extend the date for purchasing the ITT documents till May 20, 2022. The procedure for purchasing the ITT documents is laid down in Exhibit I. All other terms contained in Exhibit I (including the non-refundable ITT fee amount) shall be applicable herein,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Star India Pvt Ltd (current rights holder), Viacom-18 Media Pvt Ltd, Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (allowed after withdrawing cases against BCCI), Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd, Sporta Technologies Pvt Ltd (Dream 11), Sky Sports (UK) and Supersport (South Africa) have already purchased the ITT document.

The four categories for the IPL media rights in the next cycle are TV Rights for the Indian subcontinent, Digital Rights, 18 games (inaugural game, weekend double-headers, 4 play-off fixtures), and the Rest of the World.

Also Read: American Giants Google, Amazon Join Race For IPL Media Rights – Reports