The Indian Premier League [IPL], was to be played between March and May but failed to kick-off due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. The 13th edition is however set to make a return although in UAE because of the increasing pandemic figures in India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] has put into place measures to conduct the tournament safely, including all World Health Organization [WHO] advisories.
Here is everything you need to know about the tournament.
Where will IPL 2020 take place?
IPL 2020 will be held in the UAE from September 9 to November 10. The matches will be played in the UAE’s three cities i.e. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
Which teams are participating?
Eight franchises are set to take part i.e. Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Kings XI Punjab.
How will it played?
All teams will play each other twice at group stages. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the playoffs. Then the two top teams will play each other in the first playoff match. The winner will then qualify for the final while the loser gets another chance to reach the summit clash. They will play the winner of the eliminator, played between the third and fourth teams in the points table for a place in the finals.
Will spectators be allowed?
The grounds are intended to hold 50% of the maximum capacity. However, this still awaits approval from the UAE government.
What are the timings for the tournament?
Most matches will begin at 18.00 UAE time. Only 10 contests will have an afternoon start at 14.00
Where to watch the tournament
All games of the IPL 2020 season will be available to stream on participating streaming partners, depending on your country.