BY SACNILK

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin from 19 Septemeber and the final will be played on November 8 in UAE. The IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed on Friday, July 24 on pending clearance from the Indian government. ## Earlier this week, BCCI had selected United Arab Emirates to host this year's IPL. However, BCCI tried hard to keep the tournament in India but failed as the COVID-19 pandemic is kept worsening in the country. ## The Emirates Cricket Board, and SLC, had approached the BCCI with the offer of playing host to the IPL 2020, stating that they had the required infrastructure for it. With the ICC postponing the Men's T20 World Cup to the next year, a window was opened for the IPL to take place. ## Further details regarding the plan of departure for teams and the full schedule of the tournament will be discussed at the IPL Governing Council meeting scheduled next week. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Indian Premier League 2020 which was scheduled to begin earlier this year in March, will now be played in the United Arab Emirates. Among the few options of holding this year's IPL, BCCI has selected UAE to host the tournament which was postponed earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, BCCI will have to wait for the government's approval. ## "We have written to the government seeking permission to host the tournament in UAE. The dates have not been finalized as yet and will be decided at the (next) IPL GC, which will be held in the next seven or ten days", IPL chairman Brijesh Patel told to Cricbuzz, on Tuesday (July 21). ## After the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed Men's T20 World Cup 2020 which was scheduled to hold in Australia in October-November yesterday on July 20, the doors were open for the IPL to take place. ## After asserting the COVID-19 situation, BCCI looked at several alternatives in a bid to host the tournament later in the year in India. Boards from several countries - Sri Lanka, New Zealand and UAE offered to host the tournament. Last month, the Emirates Cricket Board had offered to host the tournament in UAE, stating that they had the required infrastructure for it.## In all likelihood, UAE will end up hosting the tournament. However, Brijesh Patel didn't deny the possibility of hosting the tournament in India and hinted that options are open as of now. The decision, however, will be taken in the upcoming IPL Governing Council meeting.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 14 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who attended the IPL Governing Council meeting on Saturday, said that it has been decided that the safety of the spectators will be kept first and all the directives issued by the government and the health agencies will be followed to the hilt amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak when the 13th season of the cash-rich league starts later. ## The organising body and the eight IPL franchisee owners sat across the table at the BCCI headquarters to chalk out comprehensive plan for the IPL 13 which has been now postponed till April 15. ## "Wonderful to meet all the franchise owners 'off the field' so to say. The meeting by BCCI and IPL was to reiterate what all of us feel…safety first of the spectators, players management and cities we play in. All directives of the health agencies and government to be followed…," Shah Rukh said on his official Twitter handle. ## "Hope the spread of the virus subsides & the show can go on. BCCI and team owners in consultation with the government will keep a close watch and decide the way forward in the health interest of everyone. Lovely to meet everyone and then sanitise ourselves repeatedly," he added while tagging BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, Secretary Jay Shah and IPL chairman Brijesh Patel. ## On Friday, BCCI decided to postpone IPL 13, originally scheduled to start from March 29, to April 15 amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak which has affected more than 80 people in India and has claimed two lives as well. ## On Wednesday, the government had cancelled all visas, except for a few official categories, till April 15 in the wake of the growing coronavirus scare. ## The Sports Ministry also followed this up by making it clear that all sporting events should be cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. And if it is unavoidable, the events should be held behind closed doors so as to avoid mass gatherings. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.