IPL likely to resume season in UAE on Sept 19, final on Oct 15

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) brass is exploring the option of using the full window of Indian Premier League (IPL) by pushing the final back to October 15 in order to reduce the number of double headers in the UAE’S searing September heat.

The tournament will start on Sunday, September 19, and while the final was tentatively planned for October 10, the BCCI as well as the Emirates Cricket Board are mulling stretching the lucrative T20 event till October 15.

“September 15 to October 15 is the window. Initially, BCCI was thinking of having 10 double headers. But, in third and fourth week of September, having 10 afternoon matches can be physically exhausting for player in such short window,” a BCCI official aware of the development told news agency PTI on the condition of anonymity.

“So if October 15, which is a

Friday is zeroed in on, it’s basically start of weekend in India and in Dubai, it’s a holiday which will allow fans to come in and enjoy a game of cricket. It serves dual purpose. Also, the number of double headers could be reduced to five or six, instead of 10,” the official said.

ANI quoting another BCCI official said the Indian board is in talks to bring in foreign players and expects a positive outcome.

AP Soldiers and volunteers work at the site of a train collision in the Ghotki district in Pakistan, on Monday. Two express trains collided early Monday, killing at least 40 passengers, authorities said, as rescuers and villagers worked to pull injured people.