BCCI Guaranteed government support to host IPL in Mumbai!!

With regard to the upcoming edition of the IPL to take place in Mumbai, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, BCCI acting CEO Hemang Amin and a couple of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials met former BCCI president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai assuring them that Maharashtra Government would lenf their every bit of support whatever is needed for IP L delegation.

A discussion on whether to allow crowds at the Wankhede, amidst rising COVID-19 cases in the city, was also held.

BCCI is yet to announce the dates and venues. Tentatively it is hoping to stage the league in six centres – Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and possibly in Mumbai too.

With the rising COVID cases state government has imposed a few restrictions on public movement and has even contemplated issuing lockdown orders at one stage recently.

Ahead of the start of IPL, the BCCI bosses are looking for a solution on whether Mumbai can be one of the hosts.

There was also a discussion on whether crowds can be allowed at the venue. “The general impression at the meeting was that it should be just like in Ahmedabad or Chennai, where the 50 per cent crowds are/were allowed,” one of the members involved in the meeting told Cricbuzz.

BCCI can announce the dates only after the GC meeting which is likely to be in the next couple of days.

However, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Mohali franchises wants that the IPL dispensation of the league should be conducted in their home cities too. All three franchises have separately written to the BCCI and Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia confirmed to Cricbuzz that he has been taking up the matter with the BCCI.

“I have already spoken to some BCCI officials and will request the higher authorities too to hold matches in Chandigarh. Fans in Punjab are passionate and they should not be deprived of IPL action,” the Punjab Kings co-owner said.