The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked all IPL teams, except Punjab Kings, to report to their respective venues by Tuesday. It is learnt that the Indian board has verbally informed the franchises that they are planning to come up with a new schedule and resume the IPL soon. The BCCI also has informed the franchises to inform their foreign players about their travel plans.
Soon after the was suspended on Friday, most of the overseas players and support staff left for their home on the same evening. Now, the franchises are making arrangements to fly them back. It is understood that the reason why the BCCI has asked the franchises to report by Tuesday is, it wants to complete the IPL as per the scheduled date which is May 25. With 12 games still remaining, the BCCI is planning to resume the league with double headers.
“All franchises have been told to inform its team to report to their respective destination by Tuesday. Punjab will have a neutral venue, so their destination is yet to be confirmed. The board is planning to have more double headers so that they can finish the IPL as per its scheduled day,” a source in the Indian board confirmed.
IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had told this paper that they are looking at the possibility of starting the suspended IPL ‘immediately’ after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on Saturday.
“Ceasefire has just been announced. We now explore the possibility of resuming and concluding the IPL. If it is possible to conduct it immediately… We need to work out the venue dates and everything, and we would now be speaking to all the stakeholders, including team owners, broadcasters, and everyone involved and find a way as to how to move forward. Most importantly, we will have to consult with the government,” Dhumal had told .
The Indian board had earlier shortlisted , and as venues for the remaining IPL games after the BCCI had abruptly suspended the IPL on Friday due to the border tension between India and Pakistan. However, the final decision on the venues will be taken after consulting the government.
On Thursday, the IPL match between and at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was called off due to security reasons. This was after the floodlights at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala went off. Dhumal had said that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure.
