Indian Goverment officially approves IPL 2020 in UAE

The BCCI has finally received the central government’s official approval to go ahead with this year’s Indian Premier League in the UAE. The IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development on Monday (10th August).

Also read: IPL 2020 in UAE – Overflowing benefits or severe drawbacks?

Previously, the Indian government had given an “in principle” go-ahead to the BCCI to host the T20 league in the UAE due to rising cases of coronavirus in the country. The IPL 2020 will be held in the UAE from September 19 to November 10 in three cities — Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“Yes, we have received all the written approvals,” said Patel.

For shifting a domestic tournament abroad, ever Indian sporting body requires clearance from Home, External and sports ministries respectively.

“Once we had the verbal okay from the government, we had intimated the Emirates Cricket Board. Now we have the papers also, so franchisees can be intimated that everything is in order,” revealed a veteran BCCI official on condition of anonymity to PTI.

Most franchises will be leaving the country after 20th August following two mandatory RT-PCR (COVID-19 tests) conducted within 24 hours of departure.