Amid the rising coronavirus cases in the country, a plan to conduct the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a topmost priority on the agenda of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The meeting will be conducted virtually on Friday. Among the 11-point agenda- discussions on domestic cricket season will also be done and it is likely to be curtailed.
The third issue covers revising the men’s cricket team’s Futures Tours & Program (FTP) with three series already canceled (away white ball tours of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and home series against England). The last time the team played was in March. The Council will also address the way forward for the IPL, which was delayed indefinitely because of the health crisis. The BCCI has zeroed in on conducting the league between September-early November window.
A senior BCCI official said, “Obviously, all options need to be explored. First option is India but you don’t how the situation will be. Obviously, there is UAE and Sri Lanka but taking out the IPL will increase the overheads. I think the president (Sourav Ganguly) also recently said that.”
The officer further added that they are still not in a position to fix venues in a situation that is so uncertain. However, he said that the plans and the tentative window need to be ready so that one the International Cricket Council (ICC) makes a formal announcement of the T20 World Cup cancellation next week, they can proceed.
The issue of obtaining tax exemption certificates from the government to host the 2021 T20 World Cup is also high on the agenda with the ICC board meeting scheduled for next Monday.
The tax exemption for the ICC events was indeed a bone of contention and the Central Government has given BCCI time until December to get the necessary clearances.
The agenda list for BCCI Apex Council Meet includes:
1) IPL- Way forward
2) Domestic cricket schedules
3) FTP- Rescheduling of the England home series for February 2021
4) Tax exemption certificates mandatory for hosting the T20 World Cup in India
5) NCA facility in Bengaluru
6) Extension of contract for BCCI & IPL digital platforms
7) Bihar Cricket Association’s administrative mess
8) Appointment of new staff in the BCCI
9) Procedure to appoint new CEO after Rahul Johri’s resignation