ECB denies report of IPL being shifted to UAE

Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) denied the reports that the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to be shifted to the UAE in the wake of general elections in the country.

The report is swirling in a section of the Indian media that the BCCI is exploring the possibility of stagingIPL the second phase of the IPL in the UAE due to the fear of the clash of dates with the election.

The dates for the general election in the biggest democracy of the world are supposed to be announced later on Saturday. The reports claimed that a few top-notch BCCI officials are in Dubai, pondering the option of shifting the richest cricket league of the world to the UAE.

The speculations were prompted by the fact that the BCCI announced the fixture only for the first 21 matches of the IPL. What fuelled it further is that a BCCI official told a leading Indian newspaper on the condition of anonymity that they are weighing the options.

Times of India quoted the source in BCCI as saying “The Election Commission of India will announce the election schedule on Saturday. After that, the BCCI will decide whether IPL matches should be moved to Dubai. Currently, a few top BCCI officials are in Dubai to explore the possibility of organizing the second half of the IPL in Dubai.”

A source close to the development of the matter in the ECB allegedly denied any such reports.

“We have been together since morning today after the ICC meeting and there was no such interest shown by the BCCI officials,” said the source.

“They are here to attend an ICC meeting. But they even did not broach this topic with us, nor did we offer them,” he added.

Meanwhile he did not rule out the possibility of the tournament being to the UAE later on.

“May be they can decide later on to shift the tournament, but as of now there is nothing like that and these are mere speculations by a section of the media.

“In future, if they show any interest, it shall be communicated to the media through a proper channel,” he emphasized.

“IPL is an Indian tournament and it has more charm and appeal when it is played there. India is a huge country and they have a very strong infrastructure with a lot of cricket stadiums to hold such tournaments,” he added.

IPL has been shifted out of India on many occasions previously, thrice to the UAE and once to South Africa.