Will the IPL be played in the UAE later this year? Surely, it appears so. The Arab nation will stand to benefit
It appears increasingly likely that the festival of short-form cricket, which we know as the Indian Premier League (IPL), will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) though much depends on the permissions from the Arab nation. But this wouldn’t be the first time that the IPL will be shifted to the UAE. Several matches have been played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the past during the time when elections were conducted in India. The UAE is geographically close enough to India. Thus, match timings do not have to be significantly altered. The fact that the IPL will take place in cooler winter climes should help with scheduling, too. But most importantly, the relatively low local population and a large number of resorts will possibly ensure that the players, officials and broadcast teams can also be kept inside a “bio bubble”, just like those involved in the ongoing summer cricket series in England.
While cricket purists can argue about the value of T20 cricket and the concept of a “franchise”-based tournament in a sport that has since time immemorial been a joust between regions and nations, the return of the glamour and excess of the IPL will be a shot in the arm for the cricket economy. The IPL funds grassroots cricket not only in India but thanks to the country’s contributions, several nations across the world stand to benefit. That said, why isn’t the IPL being hosted in India? Is this an admission of the fact that the Government expects a second wave of the Coronavirus this winter, the traditional flu season? Or are the authorities trying to better be safe than sorry? True, the relatively compact UAE will involve bus journeys between resorts and cricket grounds. Thanks to its once flourishing expatriate population, the UAE has several cricket stadia. In fact, the International Cricket Council is based out of Dubai. The cancellation of the IPL would have meant a billion dollar hit to the Indian economy, both directly and indirectly. While the UAE will garner significant revenues, hosting the games there will also allow the Arab nation to promote itself as a safe tourist haven. Indian television channels and cricket writers will hopefully get some financial support from the IPL because it is unlikely that India will be hosting a cricket series until late 2021. Here is to IPL 2020.