IPL 2021: Will England host rest of the matches upon tournament resumption?
The 2021 Indian Premier League remains suspended indefinitely but remains hopeful to be completed by the latter half of the year. However, will India play host again remains the question? While the United Arab Emirates is being considered a potential venue, England has offered its services.
FollowThe Indian Premier League 2021 has come to a sudden and unfortunate halt after there were multiple COVID bubble breaches. To preserve the participating members' integrity and give their health, safety, and well-being the utmost priority, the IPL Governing Council made the right call to call off the tournament for now.
However, questions have already started to arise as to when the tournament resume and where it would be played. Meanwhile, according to an ESPNCricinfo report, a few English counties have come up with proposals to hos the remaining matches of the tournament.
MCC (Lord's), Surrey (The Oval), Warwickshire (Edgbaston, Birmingham) and Lancashire (Old Trafford, Manchester) are the ones who have written to England and Wales Cricket Board, extending their support. The tournament is being expected to be played in September and completed in just over a couple of weeks. Also, the topic is likely to be discussed during the virtual International Cricket Council meeting on Thursday.
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The counties have suggested that it would allow the players to prepare at the topmost level ahead of the 2021 ICC World T20. While the WT20 is expected to be played in the United Arab Emirates, the counties believe that it would also keep the UAE fresh.
Moving the IPL to England has not been discussed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. At the same time, the counties feel that crowd could be allowed inside the venues in England, where the COVID cases are currently relatively low. Meanwhile, if the tournament is moved to UAE, there could likely be three matches played per day to wrap up the competition quickly, while there could be no break before the playoffs.
However, the headache of playing in England could be the strict quarantine ruled currently in place. But, most Indians would be aided since they would be playing the Tests in England that conclude on September 14. In the meantime, the crunch international calendar could also be a factor since England is scheduled to play Pakistan for Twenty20 Internationals just after the India Tests. Nevertheless, the English counties are hopeful of some flexibilities.
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