UAE set to host IPL 2020 cricket tournament beginning next month

The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 cricket tournament is set to commence from September 19, with the tournament staged in the UAE instead of India.

In a statement carried on the IPL website, Jay Shah, the honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said that the decision to the hold the VIVO IPL 2020 edition in the UAE, is subject to approvals from the Indian government.

NEWS: #VIVOIPL 2020 to commence on 19th September, final to be played on 10th November.

More details ? https://t.co/vpM45FAnUQ pic.twitter.com/KnE48kDW1i

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) August 2, 2020

Following a video conference meeting by the Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) on Sunday, a decision was made to move the tournament outside of India due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eight teams will participate in the 53-day tournament, the final of which will be played on November 10.

The matches are slated to be held at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

The tournament will consist of 10-afternoon matches which will start at 3.30pm IST (5pm UAE time), while the evening fixtures will start at 7.30pm IST (9pm UAE time).

Apart from the main tournament, the BCCI added that the Women’s T20 Challenge will also take place in the UAE and will comprise of three teams, with four matches played during the IPL Playoff week.

“The Governing Council also discussed the comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which will be finalised and published in due course, including the agencies to execute and deliver a bio-secure environment for safe and successful conduct of IPL 2020 Season,” said Shah.

Chinese mobile company VIVO will remain the title sponsor for the event. In 2017, VIVO reportedly signed a five-season agreement spanning from 2018-2022 to retain the title sponsorship rights in a deal valued at $310m.

In 2019, Duffs & Phelps said that the brand value of the IPL was approximately $6.7bn.