BCCI says IPL 2021 to begin April 9; no crowds at least initially

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that its flagship Indian Premier League's 2021 season will start from April 9 without fans allowed at stadiums - at least initially. 

In 2020, as Covid-19 was wreaking havoc in India, IPL was staged in the UAE but this year the tournament will not only be played at its actual home, it will also involve six Indian cities. 

“The IPL this year at home will be played behind closed doors to begin with and a call on allowing spectators will be taken at a later stage of the tournament,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

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India, which has recorded more than 11.2 million coronavirus infections so far in a population of 1.3 billion, launched a mass vaccination drive in mid-January.

The Ahmedabad stadium — the world’s biggest cricket venue that recently hosted England — will host the playoffs as well as the final on May 30.

CHECK OUT: IPL 2021 Schedule

The eight teams will play all their matches at neutral venues.

Out of the 56 league matches, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore will host 10 matches each, while Ahmedabad and Delhi will share eight games each.

“The BCCI is confident of hosting the IPL at home with health and safety of players and all people involved being paramount,” Shah said.

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