IPL 2021 is all set to resume on September 19 with limited spectators. It was suspended midway in May due to surging cases of Covid-19 in its bio bubble.
The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) will soon resume after being held back in May due to rising Covid-19 cases. The match will continue with five times champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
However, the UAE government and BCCI stated that a strictly limited number of spectators would be allowed in the stadium. It is the first time since IPL 2019 that the match will be played with the audience in the stadium.
In 2020, due to stringent protocols, no spectators were allowed in the stadium and tournaments were held in a closed stadium.
The United Arab Emirate (UAE) government allowed spectators of 60% capacity in the stadium. The matches will resume in Abu Dabhi, Sharjah, and Dubai.
Matches at UAE
Earlier, Mubashir Usmani, ECB general secretary, stated that ECB is under process to seek approvals from the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and the government of UAE regarding the spectators in the stadium.
“We want our ex-pat and Emirati sports-loving fans in the UAE to be able to watch the action from the stands,” Usmani added. The second phase will commence in Dubai International Cricket Stadium with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
Kolkata Night Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will play matches at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The summit clash will be held in Dubai on October 15.
Gleen Maxwell’s Statement
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell stated that the Indian Premier League held in the UAE would level the playing field “a fair bit” in the T20 World Cup as it will be played in the same venue.
Resumption of the IPL on September 19 in the UAE after being suspended in May amidst the second wave of Covid in India, leading to multiple cases inside its bio-bubble, will be followed by the T20 World Cup from October 17.
“Most likely makes it a little bit easier for there not to be as much of a home ground advantage.
For the IPL to be there to have a lot of international players that are going to be in that World Cup over there playing, I think it’s probably levelled the playing field a fair bit.,” the player stated.
Australia’s top players, including Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Aaron Finch, have not competed in the last few months and will be back to the game at the IPL.
