Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Anurag Thakur has put the idea of ‘Mini IPL’ on hold for the time being. The tournament will not be taking place in the USA. Florida recently hosted the two match T20 series between men in blue and calypso kings. Windies won the series 1-0.
The main problem is the time zone difference.
“I think we must understand the time difference. IPL is seen in India from 7 o’clock to 11 or 11.30 at night. So you have to play somewhere in the east coast here (USA) so (that) the timing matches. If we have to play in the day here, the matches should be seen in India at night because broadcasting is a big thing. So you can’t make your home fan lose (by) playing outside India. So which are the provinces you can play in United States? That’s a big task,” Thakur was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNcricinfo”.
He further added that,” IPL, we are not even thinking of hosting it outside India. It has to be hosted in India, but there are many other options what you can do which we’ll let you know over a period of time when we come out with a long-term plan for this market.”
BCCI had announced that there will be a mini IPL or Overseas IPL to be held in the window that was available for the now defunct Champions League T20. Final approval is awaited and consensus has not been reached yet.
The USA and UAE are the venues which are being considered for the event by IPL governing council and working committee.
India has a busy home season, with 13 Test matches lined up and they will take on Black Caps for three Test matches starting in September.