Vivo IPL 2021: BCCI rejected IPL governing council proposal to shift Vivo IPL 2021 to UAE.
Vivo IPL 2021: The biggest nightmare of the BCCI has just shown up in the Vivo IPL 2021 though there was no breach in the bubble by the players or the other members of the franchise. It was just a matter of time when this dreaded second wave of the global pandemic had its grip on the Indian T20 tournament. However, the situation could be easily avoided and handled had the board approved the IPL governing council’s proposal to shift Vivo IPL 2021 to UAE.
It is learnt that the IPL GC before the start of the Vivo IPL 2021 suggested the BCCI to shift the entire elite competition to UAE. A week prior to the IPL 2021 opener between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), IPL GC headed by Brijesh Patel wrote a proposal to BCCI asking them to shift the tournament.
Patel along with four IPL franchises sensed that in a long-drawn tournament like this, things might go out of control and were of the view to shift the tournament. However, the officials of the board didn’t pay any heed to the proposal shown by IPL GC.
UAE and Emirates Cricket Board (ECC) safely conducted the IPL 2020 in its three venues Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi and was on standby a week before the IPL 2021 opener.
“UAE was always the first choice of the IPL GC for this year’s tournament. Even a week before the start of the IPL, they asked the BCCI to move the entire event to UAE. Emirates Cricket Board (ECC) was also put on immediate alert and they were willing to host the IPL yet another time in such a short notice.
“But nobody in the BCCI showed urgency to take the steps. The officials were waiting for the others to take the first step and eventually the proposal was shot down,” said the sources.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Dhumal were also the part of IPL GC.
After the success of Tests, T20Is and ODI against England, the Board was confident to pull out the huge tournament like IPL.
“The board got an enormous confidence boost after conducting the Tests, T20Is and ODI series against England at three venues smoothly. The IPL, though, was a far bigger challenge with more teams, personnels and venues at play, but the BCCI felt that it had the infrastructure to pull off the things,” said the BCCI source.
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