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IPL in UAE: A resounding success amidst a raging pandemic

By hosting such a big tournament amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has reinforced its credentials as a global sports destination.

IPL 2020

Bengaluru, November 10: Hosting sixty matches in 53 days amidst a raging pandemic in empty stadiums under a new bio-bubble environment for players, might have been one of the biggest challenges the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 organisers faced, yet as the curtains come down on the mega show, they have come off with flying colours as the tournament has proved to be a resounding success.

With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sending the global sports calendar for a toss, IPL too was a casualty as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could not stage it in the traditional April-May window at home.

Though international cricket resumed in July, IPL's future remained bleak.

Finallly with the ICC Twenty20 World Cup getting postponed, a window opened for the most popular cash-rich Twenty20 franchisee-based tournament and BCCI proposed a neutral venue to host it.

The UAE, which had hosted a few matches of IPL 2014, due to general elections in India at that time, expressed its willingness to be play host again and this time it was a different challenge with the whole tournament slated to he held in the Gulf country, that too without fans due to the COVID-19 health protocols.

A safe and secure bio-bubble environment was created in which players, while competing, were completely isolated from their surroundings to negate the risk of getting infected by COVID-19.

The three venues - Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah - that were not that far away made travelling and other logistics easy and as the tournament winds up on Tuesday (November 10), the organisers can heave a sigh of relief.

"Choosing the UAE to host this major tournament at this particular time has great significance and is indicative of the world's trust and confidence in UAE's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic," Dubai Sports Council Chairman Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had said at the beginning of the tournament.

Dubai hosted 24 matches in the tournament including the final between the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2020 was unique by many means as the 13th edition virtually heralded a digital revolution with most of the sponsors coming from the digital world.

IPL 2020 heralds a digital revolution IPL 2020 heralds a digital revolution

After VIVO opted out of the title sponsorship following a diplomatic row between India and China, gaming platform Dream11 bagged the title sponsorship rights for Rs 222 crore.

Online learning platform Unacademy, credit card payments company Cred and e-commerce payment firm Paytm also joined Dream11 on board as digital partners.

By hosting such a big tournament amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has reinforced its credentials as a global sports destination.

Story first published: Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 18:55 [IST]
Other articles published on Nov 10, 2020