Mini-IPL on foreign shores in September mooted by BCCI

Mini-IPL on foreign shores in September mooted by BCCI

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Written by: Saketh RVK

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In a meeting on Thursday in Dharamshala, the IPL Governing Council discussed the possibility of holding a mini-IPL in September, but it is understood that proposal is yet to be approved. A final decision is expected out of the BCCI's Working Committee meeting in Dharamshala on Friday.

The Indian cricket teamare not scheduled to play any cricket in September, and the BCCI has for long, been trying to fill that window. After the Champions League T20 was scrapped last year, speculation has been rife about a mini-IPL. Two senior BCCI officials told ESPNcricinfo that this topic was indeed discussed at the governing council meeting on Thursday, addressed by IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla . President of BCCI Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke were also present.

The mini-IPL is expected to last three weeks approximately, with all eight teams taking part. Sources said that USA and Dubai are among the likely hosts, though the idea is in a conceptual stage, ESPNcricinfo wrote. In late May, TOI had quoted a source as saying that the BCCI was thinking about the idea. He was quoted as saying, “It can be a great testing ground for what is possible in terms of reaching out to the Indian fan base abroad. It can be made financially viable if a market like the US is explored. Frankly, if the broadcaster finds it appealing then a lot of things fall into place.”

However, India’s home season begins in September, with the Duleep Trophy set to kick-it off with pink balls under the lights. Also clashing with this idea might be ICC’s plan to use that window to launch a new T20 tournament.

"Bilateral T20 Internationals are both rare and devoid of any context. But international tournaments get great numbers. It makes sense for ICC to revert to the old logic of having one ICC event every year and thereby one World T20 every two years," the source had told TOI in May.

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