IPL Governing Council Meeting : 5 IPL 2020 related matters need quick decision making by IPL GC

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) proposed season in UAE is still waiting for the final nod from the Indian Government. If that comes in, the IPL Governing Council members are all geared up to meet on Sunday and set the ball rolling officially for the world’s most lucrative and followed cricket league. The IPL GC under the chairmanship will have to act and take decision on very important 5 matters.

After speaking to the few franchises, broadcaster and other stakeholders involved in the league, InsideSport has compiled list of 5 matter which requires urgent attention and quick decision making by IPL GC on Sunday.

IPL 2020 : Release the Official Schedule, Dates & Venues for IPL 2020 in UAE

The Indian Premier League is just 7 weeks away and BCCI is yet to officially release dates and schedule for IPL 2020 in UAE. Everyone has a tentative dates to the tournament from Sep19th to Nov8th – but IPL GC has to stamp the same, need to release the schedule accordingly. Most important IPL GC will have to release the schedule with the details of the venues.

Once all these details are released than only IPL Franchises can plan their logistics and broadcaster can plan its on-air marketing campaigns.

It is understood that a few franchises have already finalized its travel plan, shortlisted their hotel options – keeping their squad sizes and traveling families in mind – and are awaiting a reply from the Governing Council to make further arrangements. With no in-stadia hotels available like the ones that hosted the recent Tests in England, franchises will finalise their travel plans and hotel arrangements as soon as the IPL authorities will release the official dates, schedules and handover SOP’s to the franchises.

So the first thing IPL GC would have to do is to release the dates, schedule with venue details officially.

IPL 2020 : Standard Operating Procedures guidelines for franchise, broadcasters and other stakeholders

In these Covid19 times, this is the most important piece of information every stakeholder of IPL 2020 is looking for. No one today knows how the IPL 2020’s BIO-BUBBLE will work. What exact role franchise would have to play as the tournament is scheduled to be played outside India. Everyone is waiting for Standard Operating Procedure guidelines document from the IPL GC side. Franchises are looking for answers to the queries listed below –

– Rules surrounding quarantine for squads

– protocol to be followed if one of the squad members tests positive ? What will be its impact on the player and the IPL franchise ?

– What if some player breaches the BIO-BUBBLE set by BCCI ?

– Testing the players will be the responsibility of franchises or BCCI ?

– Most importantly, will there be any cap on the each squad ? Support Staff and others ?

– How teams will travel between the cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah ?

– Who will arrange the practice facilities?

– Who will provide the net bowlers ?

SOP’s which are being prepare at the end of BCCI should answer most of the questions. According to some reports, BCCI though its partner agency IMG is preparing exhaustive 240 page SOP for the tournament stakeholders. The document will be handed over to everyone after the IPL GC meeting on Sunday.

IPL 2020 fans in stadium, should we or should we not ?

BCCI or IPL GC is yet to announce whether IPL 2020 will be played behind closed doors of will some number of fans will be allowed in the stadium. In the IPL GC meeting on Sunday, one will expect decision on the issue. Meanwhile host, Emirates Cricket Board has left the ball in the court of BCCI. According to ECB, if BCCI will give green signal, the fans can be allowed for the IPL games in UAE.

If the fans are not allowed, will IPL franchises be compensated for the same – all of this will have to be discussed and decided by the IPL GC.

IPL 2020 : How participation of top International Players will be assured ?

InsideSport was the first news platform to report that the South African, England-Australia and Sri Lankan cricketers are doubtful to make on time for the IPL 2020. As South Africa is still under lockdown, it is increasingly looking difficult for the 10 Proteas to make it to IPL 2020. On the other hand top English-Australian cricketers are expected to get delayed for IPL 2020 minimum by a week as they are scheduled to play the last T20 game in England on 16th Sep. The two Sri Lankan cricketers will be stuck with Lankan Premier League.

In middle of this situation, how will BCCI ensure that all top cricketers picked by the IPL franchises reaches on time for IPL 2020. Franchises and broadcasters are expecting that IPL GC finds a solution around the issue. Let’s see if they can !

IPL 2020 Players Replacement : Norms to be followed for the players replacement

If some players can’t make it for the IPL 2020, what will be the rules regarding replacement players, whether it be overseas players pulling out or getting injured during the tournament? In the case of the former, picking replacements from the auction pool could lead to a potential clash among the franchises. For example, Royal Challengers Bangalore have the smallest squad (21) with three South Africans – AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris – and the franchise will be desperate to strengthen their squad if these three big names pull out.

Each squad has a limit of eight overseas players. In the case of injuries to these players, will they be allowed to fly in replacements from outside? If yes, what kind of testing and quarantine measures will those players have to undergo to enter already existing bubbles? Or will the squad size and overseas players’ limit be increased before the tournament so that franchises can travel with more options?

Speaking to InsideSport, IPL Governing Council chairman, Brijesh Patel, had said on Monday, that the Governing Council will ‘discuss on every aspect of IPL 2020. We will ensure that everyones interest stays protected without any compromises with the safety of anyone’

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