Emirates Cricket Board hopeful of fan presence at stadiums in UAE for IPL

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), hosts of this year's IPL, is hopeful of at least some fan presence in the stands during the matches. The ECB is finalising preparations to host the IPL from September 19 after India's struggle to contain the Covid-19 surge prompted its relocation.

While it will be impossible to create the usual carnival-like atmosphere in the stands, the ECB is hoping it would not be a totally-behind-closed-doors affair as is the norm during the pandemic.

"As hosts, Emirates Cricket Board will work closely with the authorities to seek approval on what protocols need to be followed, this includes fan attendance," ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani said by email. "We will then discuss with the BCCI to assess their spectator requirements.

"We want our Asian diaspora, as well as the other expat and Emirati sports-loving fans to be able to watch the action from the stands."

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The 53-day tournament will be played across three venues - Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi - with the final scheduled for November 10.

It is not the first time that the eight-team competition will be held outside India. The 2009 edition took place in South Africa as it coincided with India's general elections and the UAE hosted the early matches of the tournament five years later for the same reason.

"Having hosted the 2014 IPL our team is well aware of the requirements to deliver on a successful event," Usmani said. "We have a very capable team who has an exceptionally strong cricket-administration pedigree... We are very confident in delivering a successful tournament."