Can IPL 2021 remainder be played in Sri Lanka?
The 2021 Indian Premier League has been postponed indefinitely owing to many breaches at team bubbles due to COVID. Meanwhile, potential venues are being shortlisted to hold the remainder of the tournament, including UAE, England and Sri Lanka.
FollowFollowing the unfortunate events of bio-bubble breaches by COVID, the fruitful Indian Premier League 2021 has been postponed indefinitely, keeping in mind the health safety of the participating members. However, it has thrown up the question regarding the tournament's future this season as to if it would be played in India or overseas.
As of now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has reportedly identified the United Arab Emirates as the potential venue to finish off the event this season. However, it seems like England and Sri Lanka have also emerged as potential venue candidates.
According to the latest report by ESPNCricinfo, Sri Lanka is likely to recommend BCCI hosting the event in the island nation, having already requested the same in 2020. SLC's management committee chairperson, Professor Arjuna de Silva, is likely to develop yet another proposal to BCCI in the coming days.
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The remaining half of the competition is expected to be played in September. As for the venues, the nation has quite a few grounds. However, only four stadiums have floodlights: Colombo, Pallekele, Hambantota and Dambulla.
Lanka has already hosted a domestic Twenty20 event during the pandemic, as it conducted the Lanka Premier League last year. However, the challenge would be that IPL is a broader event (eight teams) than LPL (five sides), as more resources and intelligent management are required. While LPL was entirely directed in Hambantota, the same cannot be the case with IPL.
It remains to be seen if BCCI does consider Lanka an option, while UAE is the front runner. Also, administering IPL in the island nation would heavily help Lanka's finances. However, Lanka also seems to be on the rise in terms of COVID, with around 2,000 regular cases being recorded since mid-April.
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