IPL 2021: It’s not going to be easy – Aakash Chopra on hosting rest of matches before T20 World Cup

Former Indian opener and now a cricket analyst Aakash Chopra believes it is not going to be easy to host the remaining Indian Premier League 2021 matches before the T20 World Cup. It has been reported that the BCCI might target the September window to host the rest of the matches.

The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has also mentioned that they will need to find a window before the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in October-November. Ganguly also revealed that they will incur a huge loss of around INR 2500 crores if they aren’t able to host the remaining 31 matches of the IPL. However, there are going to be a plethora of challenges in front of the Indian board.

The players will need to quarantine before the event, which means some more extra days. Furthermore, the overseas players will have their national duties as England will be playing against Pakistan. Moreover, it will be difficult from the logistical point of view.

“It’s not that easy, let’s be honest. There are three to four huge issues. The first is to take all the players there and get them to quarantine. We are not just talking about Indian players. It’s a global event where everyone has to come and quarantine,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

“Secondly, all countries at that time would be making their preparations for the World Cup in that period. All of them have some or the other matches scheduled, like England is playing against Pakistan at that time,” observed Chopra.

On the other hand, Chopra believes it will be difficult to host the IPL in UAE as there are only three stadiums there. Moreover, the T20 World Cup could be moved from India to the UAE and thus the pitch conditions will change for the T20 showpiece if the IPL is held there.

“Can it happen in the UAE, hypothetical again. The quarantine rules are less stringent there. But the problem is there are only three grounds. If you play 31 matches of the IPL first, how will the long World Cup happen after that. So in terms of the pitch conditions, I don’t think that will be possible,” signed off Chopra.

Meanwhile, a group of English counties have offered to host the IPL in September. MCC, Surrey, Warwickshire and Lancashire have offered to host the IPL matches.