The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in itsSpecial General Meeting (SGM) has approved that the remaining 31 matches of theIPL be held in UAE. Senior officials Rajeev Shukla and Jay Shah confirmed thisdevelopment to an Indian daily.
The Board claimed that a window in September-October hasbeen kept in focus while taking this decision. The UAE on its part is excitedto be given the opportunity to host the matches on its three grounds Abu Dhabi,Sharjah, and Dubai.
The Board also agreed to talk to cricket boards of othernations regarding foreign players. The English Board has earlier bannedplayers.
Regarding T-20 World Cup, meeting will be held by InternationalCricket Council on June 1. BCCI will ask for time to make a decision on thehosting of World Cup. Further, an analysis of the COVID situation will also bemade.
Highlights of the BCCI SGM:
· For IPL, BCCI has found a window of 25 days. Theremaining 31 matches will be played at the three grounds of UAE. UAE CricketBoard is happy with this decision. Negotiations with UAE are on for this.
· BCCI will talk to the boards of other nationsregarding foreign players. However, it is claimed by an Indian daily that theabsence of the foreign players will not affect the IPL.
· The fans of IPL will be relieved to know that thematches of the IPL will be held at any costs.
· BCCI will ask ICC for one month time for T-20World Cup. During this time, COVID situation will also be analyzed.
· A source in BCCI informed that the Board desiresto conduct the matches in India and since there are four months in October andthe COVID situation in India may improve in that time.
· There was, however, no discussion on the pendingpayments to domestic players. The cancellation of Ranji Trophy due to COVID hasaffected 700 players. It must be reminded that BCCI had assured players inJanuary that they would be offered financial help, but they were not informedof the process of this.
· According to sources, someone from StateAssociation had raised the issue of the pending payments to domestic players,but Sourav Ganguly and Rajeev Shukla both rejected this citing the point notbeing on the meeting agenda.
· Tax relief regarding hosting of World Cup wasalso discussed. Talks are going on with the Central Government regarding this. TheBoard is confident that they will be provided the relief from taxation.