BCCI likely to postpone IPL 2020 final from November 08 to 10

After preponing the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season from September 26 to 19, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to postpone the final from November 08 to 10. The change is being contemplated in order to get the Indian cricket team to depart for their tour of Australia directly from the UAE instead of a pit stop in India.

The start date, however, is unlikely to be changed which means that the span of the tournament might increase from 51 days to 53 days if the date of the summit clash is changed. For now, the talks are at the preliminary stage and the final decision about the change in dates will be taken at the IPL Governing Council meeting which is to take place on August 02.

November 10, which is a Tuesday, also comes in the Diwali week which will please the broadcaster, Star Sports, too. The primary reason for the change, however, is the commitment made to Cricket Australia which will see the Indian players avoid a return home and will directly board the flight to Down Under. 

Despite the fact that there will be a limited number of players who will be occupied till the final, even those who have been freed from their IPL responsibilities will not be allowed to depart for home and will remain in UAE. 

“Even if the players are left without any IPL matches, they will continue to remain in UAE and participate in a camp there,” TOI quoted sources as saying. “As soon as the IPL is over, the remaining players busy playing the final knockout matches of the league will join the rest and the entire team will fly together from there”.

With the Australia tour being a long assignment too, the current system means that the Indian players would not be home for the rest of the year, starting mid-August which is when they are expected to join their IPL teammates for respective training camps in the Middle East.

The move isn’t expected to please everyone considering the presence of bio-secure protocols means that the players will be unable to meet their family members even during the IPL or the Australia series. Such extended time without any physical contact with family could affect the morale of players.