The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is closely monitoring the Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates to finalise the IPL 2024 schedule. But even though the Indian Premier League is likely to begin on March 22, BCCI has kept silent on the schedule. InsideSport has learnt that the Indian board is planning to release the first half of the fixtures. And all the matches will remain in India.
It’s still not clear whether IPL 2024 will be conducted partly outside India but the BCCI is not keen to move the tournament out even partly.
“The discussions and planning are ongoing. We are waiting for clarity on the election dates so that we can plan the schedule. But if the election dates take too long to release, we can always announce it in parts. Nobody wants to see IPL moving out and we are not keen either. We will finalise everything soon,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
When will BCCI announce IPL 2024 Schedule?
Earlier this week, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla said that the BCCI was in discussion with the Indian government regarding Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates.
As per the latest update from the Election Commission of India (ECI), General Elections are likely to start in mid-April. Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer sent out a notification with a tentative date of April 16 by which they plan to have everything ready.
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While that is only a tentative date, BCCI is keeping a tab on those. The reason is the T20 World Cup 2024. BCCI does not have any buffer period this time due to the T20 WC. And hence, expect BCCI to announce at least the first part of the IPL 2024 Schedule by mid-February.
BCCI has recently announced the WPL 2024 Schedule. And now, the entire focus is on IPL 2024.
Will IPL 2024 move out?
It will depend on the Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates. BCCI will try to avoid a clash with dates election dates and schedule the tournament accordingly. Owing to election duties, state police may refuse police protection leading to rescheduling of the matches. To avoid that, BCCI is playing the waiting game.
Hence, until ECI announces election dates, there is a remote chance that the second part of the IPL 2024 will move abroad, most likely to the UAE. The reason is local police protection for matches.
If that happens, it won’t be the first time, In 2009, South Africa hosted IPL. In 2014, UAE hosted the first half of IPL, both due to elections.
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