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IPL 2021 | Fans to be allowed in the stadiums; Foreign players unavailability not a problem for BCCI

Vaccinated fans will be allowed in the stadiums at 50 per cent capacity for the second leg of the Indian Premier League reported Cricbuzz quoting a board official from the United Arab Emirates. This comes soon after a delegation led by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla reached the UAE to chalk down plans for the remainder of the IPL season. Yet to be made official, this development will depend on the local administration and if they want to formulate an event-specific rule for the tournament. 

While the crowd is out of the hands of the Indian delegation, the BCCI vice president made it clear that the unavailability of some top-class foreign players won’t stop them from completing the remainder of the 14th edition of the IPL. 

Reports in Khaleej Times state that president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and IPL chairman Brijesh Patel will be arriving in UAE shortly. 

In the Special General Meeting on Saturday, it was announced that the remainder of the IPL will be held in UAE in the September 15-October 15 window. The 14th edition of the cash-rich league was called off midway on 4 May after COVID-19 breached the bio-bubbles in both hosting venues. In all likelihood, the tournament will commence from 19 September just after the completion of India’s Test series in England. 

"I am already here. Now a team of BCCI office-bearers, president (Sourav Ganguly), secretary (Jay Shah) and the IPL chairman (Brijesh Patel) will be coming here in a couple of days. We will be having discussions with the cricket board here and the other authorities. And accordingly, the schedule will be made, so the tournament happens in a very smooth manner as it happened here last year," Shukla was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.  

Shukla stated that despite the unavailability of some foreign players, their main aim is to finish the tournament and the remaining 31 matches will be held irrespective of anything. 

"We have discussed that (foreign players) issue also. Our main focus is on completing this edition of the IPL. It should not be left halfway through. So whichever foreign players are available is fine. Whoever is not available, it is not going to stop us from hosting the tournament,” Shukla said. 

"The Indian players are there, foreign players are there, but few foreign players will not be available. As I said, we have to complete our tournament. So the franchises will definitely look for other players. Whoever is available, we are going to have the tournament with them. That’s our policy,” the BCCI vice-president further added. 

Reports had earlier emerged that England could be the possible venue for holding the remaining IPL matches. However, Rajeev Shukla said that England couldn’t be the option citing weather issues. 

"The franchises are all very happy. From day one, they have been backing the UAE. There were some media reports about England (hosting the remaining matches), but there’s a weather problem in England where it rains a lot,” Rajeev Shukla said. 

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