The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be happy if the crowd is allowed in the second phase of the Indian Premier League 2021, scheduled to commence on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates. Earlier, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) general secretary Mubashir Usmani was quoted as saying that the board will speak to the BCCI and the UAE government regarding allowing crowds back into the stands. To this, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said that the BCCI would ‘love to have a crowd’ but not at the cost of the security of the players and people.

As per the quotes in IANS, Arun Dhumal said, We are working on that and we are hoping that the UAE government will allow the crowd this time since everyone is vaccinated there. Let’s see what happens. Hopefully, fans will be allowed but not at the coast players’ or peoples’ safety – that is more important. Rest is on the UAE government to decide.”

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Reports suggested that the UAE government has decided to allow 60 percent capacity of the crowd in the stadium for the remaining matches. Arun Dhumal further stated that the 15th edition of the IPL in 2022 will be a 10-team affair with the addition of two new franchises.

The BCCI treasurer confirmed, “Everybody is looking up to the IPL now; we believe it will be an exciting tournament in UAE. This would be the last season of IPL with eight teams. Most likely there will be 10 teams next time. We are working on that too.”

Asked about more details on the two new teams which would be added, Arun Dhumal refused to reveal any further details. Moving on, Dhumal showered praise on India’s stunning Test win over England at the Lord’s.

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The BCCI treasurer asserted, “It was a great win given our past record. We had a tough time in the first half but later the way Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah played so well with bat and with the ball.”