IPL 2021 Venues Controversy: KL Rahul’s IPL team few days back undertook a rebranding exercise and changed their name from Kings XI Punjab to Punjab Kings. The idea behind rebranding was very simple – that team should be more relatable to the home state. But with BCCI ready to ignore Punjab, Chandigarh (Mohali) as venues for IPL 2021 matches, all those plans have gone awry for Punjab Kings. According to the sources, Punjab Kings is extremely peeved with the development and have shot off a mail to BCCI.
Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon has asked BCCI on what basis they have decided not to hold IPL in Punjab.
“We have written to the IPL asking them to throw light on how they have decided on these venues and why also have they decided not to hold the IPL in Punjab,” Menon told ESPN.
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Whatever we hear we are hearing from media. IPL Governing council hasn’t communicated anything to us till date about the venues or the schedule. It will be heartbreaking for our local fans if our home city miss out on the IPL matches. It will be 2nd year in succession that IPL matches will not be conducted in our cities. We are really upset about the situation”, said one of the upset member of the franchise whose city is not in the shortlisted cities list that will conduct the IPL 2021.
“The teams doing well are the ones who do well at home, win five or six home games and a few away, and that will take you through to the play-offs. Those five teams (Royals Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians) will have the home advantage, we will have to put up with all away game,” a franchise official said.
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Caravan model can be considered for IPL 2021
To avoid most of traveling BCCI is also mulling over CARAVAN style of IPL edition this year. This means that the teams can be divided into two groups – with each group will play certain set of matches in the same cities before moving on to the next leg of matches in other cities.
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IPL 2021: IPL Governing Council meeting likely to be before 8th March
IPL 2021 Venue, Dates and Schedule: It is being reliably learnt that IPL Governing Council (IPL GC) meeting will be scheduled in first week of March to decide all matters pending related to IPL 2021. IPL GC in 1st Week of March: The IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel will have a task at hand along with both BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah as they all sit down to come up with a most crucial decision on where will IPL 2021 held
BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal said the Indian cricket board is still monitoring the situation. “We are still in a dicey situation due to the increase in COVID-19 cases,” he told InsideSport last week.
Decision 2 – IPL 2021 dates: When will the IPL 2021 begin?
Though it is being speculated that IPL 2021 will start from April 11th, the Indian cricket board is yet to officially announce the dates for the 14th edition. BCCI will take the final call, says Dhumal, on the matter after the Test series between India and England which ends on March 8.
“We will finalise the dates after India vs England test series, currently we don’t have definite answers,” Dhumal said.
Decision 3 – IPL 2021 schedule and fixtures?
According to the information available with InsideSport.co, the IPL 2021 broadcasters have requested BCCI to finalize the full schedule and fixtures at least 1 month in advance. According to the broadcaster they have to make necessary arrangements for IPL 2021 so the final schedules are requested at least 30 days before the 1st bowl is bowled in IPL 2021.
“The broadcaster will need at least a month’s time to make preparations for its execution and also sell inventory. Hence a decision on the same must be taken soon,” a source in the know-how said.
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