The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and title sponsors Vivo India on Thursday confirmed a “pause” in their relationship by mutual consent for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League following the backlash surrounding the recent border standoff with China.
The BCCI is scouting for a new sponsor, a tough ask given the not-so-bright economic situation, not just in India, but around the globe and with just 44 days remaining for the start of the event, the clearance for which remains just a formality now.
Reliable sources told The Telegraph that “in-principle permission” for the IPL to be held in the UAE has been given by the ministries of home and external affairs.
This will set the ball rolling for the smooth conduct of the tournament. The Emirates Cricket Board can now approach its government for their approval and an agreement will be signed. An IPL team will also travel to the UAE to conduct a survey of the venues — Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
It has also been learnt that Tata Medical and Diagnostics is likely to be in charge of providing the bio-bubble to the franchises and stakeholders. Their inputs had largely been taken while drafting the Standard Operating Procedures which have been shared with the franchises for their feedback.
An UK firm, Restrata, which had been hired by the England and Wales Cricket Board for creating the bio-bubble during their series against the West Indies, could be in charge for the bio-bubble at the UAE venues.
The IPL governing council is considering a relaxation in quarantine rules for the players coming in from the Caribbean Premier League along with English and Australian cricketers after their one-day series following requests from the franchises.
The SOPs list a six-day quarantine for players arriving from those countries while rules in the UAE allow direct entry upon testing negative on arrival. If the players from England have to undergo a six-day quarantine, they will be unavailable for the first four-five days of the tournament, which begins on September 19.
“The franchises’ logic has been simple: They are travelling from one bio-bubble to another and that too on a chartered flight. So what’s the need,” said a source.
The franchises are also seeking a concession on the Covid/injury replacement rules — from the outset instead of having it after the seventh game.
Bid for new sponsor
The BCCI and Vivo India statements came more than 48 hours after word spread about a break in their deal. “The BCCI and Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd have decided to suspend their partnership for Indian Premier League in 2020,” said a one-line statement from the BCCI.
Vivo kept options open for an association next year. “The BCCI and Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd have mutually decided to pause their partnership for the 2020 season of Indian Premier League,” the company statement said.
According to The Telegraph’s sources, both parties have agreed to keep the contract in abeyance and will consider a renewal depending on the “then prevailing situation”.
The BCCI has now decided to follow due process in looking for a title sponsor this year. A fresh “Request for Proposal (RFP)” will be floated in the next couple of days. Vivo has a Rs 2,199-crore five-year deal with IPL from 2018 which works out to Rs 440 crore per year.
Expecting that kind of money looks untenable this year with franchises saying a deal of Rs 300 crore for this edition would be more realistic.
