UAE, Sri Lanka Offer To Host IPL If India Decides To Shift It Abroad This Year Due To COVID-19

The Emirates Cricket Board of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pitched to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it is willing to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) if India decides to shift the venue for the tournament abroad in the view of surging COVID-19 cases in the nation, reports Hindu Businessline.

The development comes at a time when the BCCI is considering to hold the tournament in October, depending on the situation of COVID-19 pandemic in India at the time. The 13th season of the IPL was earlier scheduled to be held in March this year.

Sri Lanka's Cricket Board has also pitched to host the IPL in case India decides to shift the organisation of IPL abroad this year.

It should be noted though that UAE has previously successfully hosted IPL matches. Also, apart from IPL, Emirates Cricket Board as also offered its facilities to England and Wales Cricket Board to complete the English cricket season as well.

General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, Mubashshir Usmani has also asserted, "We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past."