Amid rumors swirling around the second leg of the IPL 2024 being shifted out of India due to the General Elections, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has denied the reports of the league coming to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to a report by the Times of India, a few top BCCI officials were traveling to Dubai to decide whether the second leg of the IPL 2024 could be organized in Dubai. However, a source in the ECB has rubbished the claims with less than a week left before the start of the 17th edition.
“We have been together since morning today after the ICC meeting and there was no such interest shown by the BCCI officials. They are here to attend an ICC meeting. But they even did not broach this topic with us, nor did we offer them ” said an anonymous source to the Gulf Today.
Still a chance to hold IPL 2024 in the UAE?
Despite denying that either the BCCI or the ECB is interested at the moment in holding the IPL 2024 season in the UAE, the unnamed source did not rule out the move.
“May be they can decide later on to shift the tournament, but as of now there is nothing like that and these are mere speculations by a section of the media. In future, if they show any interest, it shall be communicated to the media through a proper channel,” he said.
“IPL is an Indian tournament and it has more charm and appeal when it is played there. India is a huge country and they have a very strong infrastructure with a lot of cricket stadiums to hold such tournaments. IPL has been shifted out of India on many occasions previously, thrice to the UAE and once to South Africa,” he further added.