Reports: BCCI planning to host entire IPL 2022 in Maharashtra

If reports are to believed, the Board of Control for India (BCCI) is planning to host the entirety of the 2022 Indian Premier league (IPL) in Maharashtra keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Due to the rapid rise of coronavirus cases in the nation, the world’s richest cricket board is looking to implement Plan B for the smooth running of the upcoming IPL edition.

In the last two years, the BCCI faced challenges in hosting the T20 league. Even as the entire IPL 2020 took place in the United Arab Emirates, the 2021 season had to be shifted out of India because of the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the team camps.

Going by reports, the BCCI is planning to host the upcoming IPL season at four venues – the Wankhede Stadium, the Brabourne Stadium, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, near Pune.

BCCI on its toes ahead of IPL 2022

“On January 5, Hemang Amin (BCCI’s interim CEO and the Chief Operating Officer of the IPL) approached Vijay Patil (Mumbai Cricket Association president) in this regard, on the sidelines of the MCA’s Apex Council meeting. Subsequently, a few days later, Amin and Patil met Sharad Pawar at the NCP supremo’s residence,” sources told The Times of India.

“Pawar has given his green signal to the BCCI’s proposal. During this week or in the next 10 days, he, the BCCI and MCA officials will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state chief secretary Debashish Chakrabarty to arrange for the necessary permission in this regard.

“There should be no problem on this front, as the tournament will be played in a strict bio bubble with no crowds, and the players and officials will be tested frequently,” sources added.

The sources stated that albeit Maharashtra and Mumbai have found themselves in the grip of coronavirus cases, sporting events have been given a green signal provided a few rules are followed.

The sources also said that if the conditions don’t improve in India, the BCCI may also shift the upcoming IPL edition out of India. Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions of the IPL.