The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might look to make a significant change in the schedule for the IPL 2024 as it will coincide with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. As per the reports, the second half of the cash-rich league in 2024 might be played outside India.
The Indian team will be focusing on the T20 World 2024 which is scheduled to begin on June 4 and the players will need some rest ahead of the marquee tournament after a tiring IPL 2024 season. The Lok Sabha elections too will commence in the same period which will further complicate the matter for the Indian Board.
BCCI might need to relocate IPL 2024 outside India
The BCCI will certainly try to schedule IPL 2024 slightly earlier considering the 2024 T20 World Cup. Hence, the tournament is likely to start on March 22 and the final might be played on May 19 which will allow a 2-week gap between the two tournaments as mandated by the ICC.
“Yes, we are aware of the complexities involved in the next IPL. We have the England series and then General Elections as well as World Cup in June. But it’s too early to even plan anything. We are all focused on successfully conducting the World Cup in October. Any decision will be made only in December-January,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.
“It’s not the first time that IPL and election dates will clash. We had IPL in 2014 in India entirely. So, I don’t see any reason why it has to be moved out. But if it does, we will cross the bridge when it’s time. It’s too early. We will try to keep the tournament in India and have a window for players to rest before T20 WC,” the official further added.
Meanwhile, the Indian team will contest against England in a 5-match test series which will be played from January 25 to March 11. This will further make the schedule a bit tighter for the key Indian players.
The Lok Sabha Elections will take place in May in different phases across the country and hence the BCCI might need to relocate the second half of IPL 2024 outside India. If that happens, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) might serve as the potential venue for the second half of the cash-rich league.
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Earlier, the Indian board had to partially relocate the tournament in 2014 and completely move it out of India in 2009 due to the Lok Sabha elections.