The second half of the 2021 edition of the IPL, which will take place in the UAE, is likely to see fans back at the stadium. Apart from that, the top BCCI and IPL representatives have flown to Dubai to finalise the arrangements.
It has now come to light that crowds could well be allowed for the remaining games of the IPL 2021. According to the UAE government’s policy, crowds can be allowed for sporting events provided that they are vaccinated for COVID-19. Most of the population in the UAE have been immunised.
According to Cricbuzz, neither ECB nor BCCI should face concerns in staging fans at the stadiums unless a government rule or policy is changed. There are 31 games remaining, including the playoffs and the final, and the three venues in the UAE are likely to host them.
“The vaccinated fans can be allowed up to 50 per cent of the [stadium] capacity,”
a UAE board official was quoted saying.
On Monday, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah, vice-president Rajeev Shukla, treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal and joint secretary Jayesh George landed in Dubai. They will be working with the ECB and the UAE government for clearances and measures to be taken to host the remaining IPL games without concerns.
UAE has banned flights to and from India, given the latter’s current COVID-19 situation. However, the BCCI office-bearers required special permission before they boarded a charter plane to Dubai. The objective of their visit is to sort out the logistical and operational problem. It is learnt that hotels are quoting overpriced sums in view of the Dubai Expo, and the BCCI officials might have discussions over that.
