The remaining games of IPL 2021 that are set to be played in the United Arab Emirates from September 17 will reportedly be held in front of spectators. This comes as good news for the IPL fans in UAE, as the second phase is likely to see an allowance of audience within the stadium with 50% capacity.
According to the UAE government’s policy, only those people who have been vaccinated will be allowed to enter the stadium for IPL matches. A UAE official told the media, “The vaccinated fans can be allowed up to 50 percent of the [stadium] capacity.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday confirmed the resumption of IPL 2021 in UAE, which will conclude prior to the ICC T20 World Cup in October. To take things forward, the BCCI top officials will be having a meeting with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). The delegation of the BCCI officials too required special permissions from the UAE government regarding travel restrictions for people travelling from India.
Although the question for the resumption of IPL 2021 has been resolved, BCCI will be needing guidance from the ECB on how to organize the event without facing the logistical and operational problems that are currently being faced by Pakistan Cricket Board for the PSL 2021. BCCI will also discuss the players’ stay and seek concessional rates.
However, the Emirates Cricket Board believes that organizing the tournament’s remaining 31 matches will not be as problematic, since they had successfully hosted IPL 2020. Moreover, the matches to be held under an audience too won’t be such an issue as around 70% of the residents have been fully inoculated, with the situation in the country very much in control.
BCCI Vice President, Rajeev Shukla said, “Whatever, Covid protocols on vaccination are required, we will be following those protocols, the Indian protocols as well as the UAE protocols.”