IPL schedule announced
THE Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in the IPL’s opening match, officials said last Sunday (6), despite being the last team to start training after two players tested positive for coronavirus.
The fixture list for the league – which runs from next Saturday (19) to November 10 in the United Arab Emirates – was released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The tournament was delayed and then moved out of India because of the pandemic.
“The season will kickstart on September 19 in Abu Dhabi with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings,” BCCI’s honorary secretary Jay Shah said. “There will be 10 double headers... 24 matches will be held in
Dubai, 20 in Abu Dhabi and 12 in Sharjah.”
The venues for the playoffs and the final would be announced later, he added.
Two CSK players – Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad – and 11 officials and support staff had tested positive for Covid-19, delaying the squad’s training.
Meanwhile, a growing list of top names have pulled out from the competition.
Former India Test off-spinner Harbhajan Singh last Friday (4) become the second key player to withdraw from three-time champions CSK, after Suresh Raina’s withdrawal for “personal reasons”.
England’s Jason Roy of the Delhi Capitals will not go because of injury, while Australian international Kane Richardson pulled out of Royal Challengers Bangalore to be at the birth of his first child.