Emirates Cricket Board interested in hosting IPL 2020 in UAE: Report

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated: Jun 07, 2020, 09:52 AM IST

The opening match of this year's IPL was supposed to be played between the most successful teams of IPL - defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and CSK - at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 would have already taken place if it had begun on the given date - March 29. However, the outbreak of coronavirus got everything to a halt and now sporting activities are making sure to get everything back to normalcy.

However, the Emirates Cricket Board has now confirmed that they are interested in hosting the 13th edition of the IPL, according to a report by Gulf News.

"In the past, the Emirates Cricket Board has successfully hosted IPL matches in the UAE. We have a proven record of being hosts as a neutral venue for various bilateral and multi-nation cricket activities in the past," its general secretary Mubashshir Usmani was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities make the Emirates a desired place for hosting all types of cricket."

Usmani also added how the Emirates Cricket Board had also offered their venues to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to finish the English season there as well.

"We have come forward and offered our venues to both England and India. We have also hosted matches involving the English team on multiple occasions previously."

"If our offer is taken up by either of the boards, then we will be pleased to host their matches,” he said.

If held out of the country, the 2020 edition will not be the first time the league will take place outside India.

The 2019 IPL was also hosted by South Africa and the 2014 edition was staged in India and UAE.