The last two seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have in some way or the other had their essence taken away from them as they had to take place outside Indian soil due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, as the world was still learning about the virus, the entire tournament was initially delayed by six months and then shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) decided to host the cash-rich league in six different cities in India but the season had to be suspended mid-way due to an outbreak within the bio-bubble amid the deadly second wave of COVID-19 which hit India in April-May last year.
This led to the second half of the tournament taking place in the UAE during the months of September and October just before the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
With India being hit by the third wave after the discovery of the Omicron variant, questions marks have arisen over the venue of the 2022 IPL season despite BCCI secretary Jay Shah announcing in November that the tournament will take place in India.
According to a report by the Times of India, BCCI is planning to host the tournament in India as things stand. However, instead of having home and away games, Indian cricket’s governing body wants to hold the round-robin matches in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune in order to eliminate air travel.
According to BCCI’s ‘plan A’, the tournament will move away from Maharashtra for the playoffs with the Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final set to take place at Ahmedabad Narendra Modi Stadium.
However, according to TOI, the board is also ready with a ‘plan B’ if the COVID-19 worsens in India with South Africa seen as the alternate venue. Sri Lanka was seen as another potential host but that idea has been reportedly ruled out.
Despite hosting the tournament in 2020 and 2021, UAE is not seen as an option this time as the board is looking for a cheaper option this time around and want a country with more venues.
“The Board has paid Emirates Cricket fees to the tune of Rs 150 crore (Rs 100 cr for 2020 edition of the IPL & Rs 50 crore for the 2021 edition) to host the tournament there. The Board is certainly not keen on spending that kind of money again and will therefore look at options,” sources tracking development told Times of India.
They added, “There are only three grounds in the UAE, so the wear and tear will be all the more. Secondly, look at a venue like Sharjah – it was so predictable last season, based on the toss. There has to be some freshness to the way things go about.
“It may not happen at all. South Africa is merely the BCCI’s Plan-B. Their Plan-A is to host the tournament in India – between Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune and the knockouts in Ahmedabad – if air-travel must be avoided or made as minimal as possible.”
South Africa had earlier hosted the entire tournament’s second season in 2009 as General Elections in India made it impossible to hold it in India
The IPL governing council is set to meet the 10 franchises on Saturday where the venue of the tournament will be discussed and the owners will be updated on the IPL’s media rights tender.
