CPL agreed to adjust schedule to pave way for IPL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Cricket West Indies (CWI) has come to an agreement to move the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to give way to the resumption of the virus-postponed Indian Premier League (IPL). The CPL was originally scheduled to start on August 28, and end on September 19. Follow us for more IPL 2021 news and updates.

“Both IPL and CPL are important to CWI, to our cricketers and to fans,” Ricky Skerritt, the Cricket West Indies president said. “CWI’s role was to facilitate arrangements for a non-overlapping and smooth transition from one tournament to the next. Cricket administrators must collaborate if cricket is to survive the risks and costs of COVID-19.” The IPL table was halted in May due to surge in COVID-19.

The CPL has now been shifted by three days from August 25 to September 15. The 2021 edition of the tournament comprises 33 matches, all of which will be hosted at Warner Park. Skerritt added that they would also soon finalize the guidelines for the franchises to be part of the bio-secure bubble.

“Any bubble-related decisions are made by the local St Kitts health authorities and CPL medical advisors (same as CWI), in the context of the local Covid-19 situation,” he said. “Just four weeks ago, St Kitts recorded community spread for the first time. For over a year, all cases were imported, identified, quarantined, and recovered. The first local Covid-19 (related) death happened just two days ago.”

Meanwhile, the BCCI wanted to conduct the remainder of IPL in September but was not able to decide a date due to CPL and India’s tour to England. The IPL 2021 will be completed in the UAE in September and October. The UAE has previously hosted the cash-rich T20 tournament in 2014 and the entire 2020 edition during the first outbreak of COVID-19 in India.

At the time the IPL was suspended, there were still 31 matches, including the four playoffs, left to be played. The Indian Board is set to implement the same protocols that were drafted for the 2020 edition, while franchises are being asked to come up with plans on how to make their players available. In cases where players are not available, the board will hear “requests” from franchises to allot replacements.

The BCCI also decided to “seek an extension” from the ICC “to take an appropriate call” on hosting the men’s T20 World Cup, originally scheduled in India between mid-October and November 14. Earlier, the Indian Board has already admitted that the 9-city hosting of the tournament in India is unlikely following the situation in India.

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