When is Lok Sabha Election 2024 and when IPL 2024 Schedule are two search terms that are dominating Google search in India And there is a good reason why the two search terms almost always coincide. The IPL months are General Elections months. And the elections could force IPL 2024 out of India, if not fully, partially. That is the primary reason why BCCI is taking longer to finalise the dates of IPL. There is a lack of clarity on the election dates.
The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is not on the political parties and that’s why despite BCCI’s political connections, they do not have the foresight of the dates. It’s the Election Commission of India (ECI), an independent body, which will decide the dates.
When is Lok Sabha Election 2024?
So far, there are only rumours about the dates and the ECI has not confirmed the dates. For now, the months of April-May seem to be earmarked for General Elections.
A recent notification by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi raised speculations that the General Elections would begin on April 16. However, the ECI has rubbished the date. Instead, April 16 is only a tentative date for internal preparation purposes.
The ECI is likely to announce the Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates by February end. And BCCI could follow suit in announcing the IPL 2024 Schedule.
IPL 2024 Schedule
Again, as reported by InsideSport, the BCCI is in discussion with the Home Ministry on the IPL. The reason is police protection for IPL matches. All BCCI has is a window: March 22 to May 26.
“Discussions are ongoing with the Indian government and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding whether the IPL will be shifted or not. Confirmation can only be made after these discussions,” Rajeev Shukla told Insidesport.
The state police provides protection for IPL matches in stadiums. But as they will be busy with election duties, they will be unavailable for IPL duty. Hence, BCCI needs to plan carefully. No IPL match on Election Day or a day before and after.
However, the problem is that India have at least seven phases of elections. Hence, it is difficult to predict which city will go for poll on an IPL match day, a day before or a day after. But that’s not all. The Prime Minister or any cabinet minister going for a rally needs a major security blanket. Hence, police protection may not be available if the IPL 2024 match coincides.
More on IPL 2024
IPL out of India?
For now, the first half of the IPL 2024 will remain in India. What happens to matches during Elections is up for debate. The BCCI is not keen to move IPL 2024 out of India. Even though UAE remains on standby to host some of the matches, BCCI will take wait and see approach. The Indian board is likely to release the schedule in two phases.
In 2009, South Africa hosted IPL. In 2014, UAE hosted the first half of IPL, both due to elections. But BCCI will try and keep the IPL 2024 entirely in India with chances of matches shifting to a neutral venue high.
“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.
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