Due to the upcoming General Elections and the Indian
government refusing to provide security for IPL 7 during that period, the BCCI
has decided to hold the initial part of the tournament at the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and possibly Bangladesh, with the tournament returning to India
post Elections.
The BCCI confirmed that the tournament will begin on April 16
in the UAE that will host matches until April 30. However, venue for matches in
the period between May 1 and 12 is still undecided. In case the Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) doesn't allow the BCCI to host matches in Indian cities
where the polling has concluded, then the tournament will move to Bangladesh
between May 1 and 12. After that, from May 13 to the final on June 1, all the
matches will be played in India only.
"BCCI is very grateful to the Emirates Cricket Board,
its chairman, HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, and the government of the
UAE for their offer of wholehearted support to host the Pepsi IPL for this period."
The United Arab Emirates will stage the opening matches of
this year's Indian Premier League, which will begin on April 16.
"For the period from Thursday 1st May to Monday 12th
May, BCCI has approached the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India,
seeking permission to play IPL matches in India in cities where the polling has
concluded in the respective state. BCCI is extremely conscious of the various
complexities involved, but hopes for a favourable consideration. BCCI will
abide by the decision of the authorities in this regard. If it is not possible
to play in India during this period, IPL matches will be held in Bangladesh and
BCCI is thankful to the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the government of
Bangladesh for their support.
"From Tuesday 13th May (once polling has concluded in
all states), the remaining league matches plus the play-offs will be played in
India," the statement added.
"There will be no matches scheduled on the counting day
of Friday 16th May. BCCI will take the advice of the authorities if any further
restrictions are required around the counting day." the
release further read.
The MHA had informed the BCCI that it has no objection if the
Indian cricket board wants to hold the IPL 7 matches in India post the
Elections. However, the ministry also made it clear that the BCCI has to first
take green signal from the respective state governments for security provisions.
The second season of the IPL in 2009 was also held out of India, in South
Africa, for the same reason after the government refused to provide security.
"The BCCI is pleased to announce that the 2014 Pepsi IPL
season will start on Wednesday 16th April 2014, and conclude on Sunday, 1st
June 2014. A detailed match schedule for the Pepsi IPL 2014 season will be sent
out soon," the official release from the Indian cricket board read.
However, a
statement on the IPL website revealed that the tournament would run until June
1, with the final matches to be played in India.
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Tags: IPL 7, UAE, Bangladesh.
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