While planning the schedule of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 cricket came second to politics as the reports suggest that fixtures of the tournament schedule will be finalized after the general elections-schedule is out. India’s biggest money-spinner is set to be brought ahead this year because of the ICC World Cup starting in May but the schedule of the general election has created a problem for the BCCI in fixing an early fixture as well.
On the other hand, the World Cup will commence on May 30 and will conclude on July 14. However, this is not the first time that the IPL has had to adjust with the general elections.
The IPL schedule has clashed with the general elections two times in the last decade. In 2009, the entire tournament was shifted to South Africa while in 2014, the initial matches of the tournament were played in the UAE and then it was shifted later to India. The starting date of the upcoming edition of the IPL has already been confirmed to be March 23 and also the BCCI said last month that it will be played in India.
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According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the schedule for the entire IPL season might only be released in March, once the Election Commission of India announces the election schedule. The only confirmation that has been received about the IPL so far is that it will begin on March 23 and staged in India.
Since the Lodha Committee recommends a minimum of a 15-day gap between the IPL and India’s international assignments, the tournament can’t be postponed too much since India are scheduled to play their first game in the World Cup against South Africa in Southampton on June 5. Already, the match has been postponed by three days from June 2 to June 5 because of the Lodha panel’s recommendations.
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Describing the same, a BCCI official said, “The schedule will take some time as we need to wait for the general election dates to be released by the election commission. Since this is the most important event in the calendar year, one has to ensure that we work according to the dates and plan the games in a way that everything is in sync. We all know the kind of arrangement that goes behind hosting elections and that is the priority.”
Besides the general election, severe droughts in Maharashtra and adjoining states have also been a headache for the IPL organizers.
