A team comprising top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will reach Dubai
on August 22 to look into the administrative and technical aspects of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League in the UAE.
According to The Telegraph's sources, the team will include BCCI secretary Jay Shah, treasurer Arun Dhumal, IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel and |its chief operating officer-cum-BCCI interim CEO Hemang Amin. It's still not clear whether BCCI president Sourav Ganguly will accompany the team, but arrangements have been made for his travel and accommodation.
The tournament is scheduled from September 19 with the final to be played on November 10. As many as 60 matches, including 10 double-headers, will be held at three venues - Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Patel confirmed on Monday that the BCCI has received the much-awaited written permission from the external affairs and home ministries. The Telegraph had reported on Friday that "in-principle" permission had been given and clearance remained just a formality.
As per the Standard Operating Procedures decided by the IPL and sent to the franchises, all members will have to undergo a six-day quarantine in the UAE before commencing their activities.
"The team will be setting up its office, look into the facilities, health safety protocols and co-ordinate with officials of the Emirates Cricket Board. Travelling will be by chartered flights and so options will be limited," said a source.
Most of the franchises have zeroed in on their travel plans with Chennai Super Kings likely to reach on August 22. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team has asked the home players and support staff to assemble in Chennai by August 18.
Six other franchises - including Kolkata Knight Riders and barring Royal Challengers Bangalore - will be flying out of Mumbai and have informed their players accordingly.
"All Indian players and team support staff must undergo two COVID-19 PCR tests, 24 hours apart, in the week before assembling in the franchises' city of choice," the SOP states.
The IPL has already warned that any breach of protocol will be punishable under its code of conduct.
Title sponsors
The BCCI, in its bid to rope in a title sponsor after Vivo decided to "pause" their relationship for a year, on Monday floated an invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI). According to a media release, the "sponsorship rights" are "available for the period from August 18, 2020, to December 31, 2020".
The EOI will close at 5pm on Friday and the entire process is expected to be finalised by August 18 "subject to revision by BCCI at its sole discretion".
As per the deal with Vivo, the BCCI was receiving Rs 440 crore per year, which was equally distributed between them and the eight franchises.
Not many are hopeful of any company forking out such an amount given the current economic situation but the BCCI remains hopeful. "There's a lot of interest and we remain hopeful," said IPL chairman Patel. E-commerce and e-education companies remain the front-runner for the title sponsorship though Baba Ramdev's Patanjali and Coca-Cola are understood to be keen to enter the race.
The BCCI has made it clear that the company bidding the highest amount may not fetch the rights if the Board is not satisfied with its plans on commercialising its most valuable property.
"...it is clarified that BCCI shall not be obliged to award the Rights to the third party which indicates willingness to pay the highest fees in the course of discussions/ negotiations with BCCI after submitting an EOI," the release stated.
"BCCI's decision in this regard will also depend on a number of other relevant factors, including but not limited to, the manner in which the third party intends to exploit the Rights and the potential impact of the same on brand IPL as also the fan/ viewer experience, which will be examined/ evaluated by BCCI in the course of discussions/ negotiations with interested third parties who submit an EOI."