Exclusive: New Zealand Cricket clears the air, ‘not hosting IPL 2020’

New Zealand Cricket has put all rumours to rest that has been floating on social media, and as reported overseas that it will not be hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in New Zealand.

Earlier today, reports emerged on social media quoting several overseas based Indian media outlets such as The Times of India, Hindustan Times that New Zealand has offered to host the IPL 2020 which is being planned to be held September end-November this year.

A spokesperson from New Zealand Cricket confirmed to the Indian Weekender that New Zealand would not be in a position to host the IPL- even if were asked to which they haven’t been.

“New Zealand would not be in a position to host the IPL – even if we were asked, which we haven’t been.

“The dates, and NZC’s commitment to honouring its Future Tours programme, means the timing would not allow this to happen,” a spokesperson from NZC told The Indian Weekender.

The cash-rich IPL T20 cricket tournament was initially scheduled to commence on 29 March this year but was suspended until 15 April due to global Covid-19 pandemic.

Since the lockdown in the country was extended till at least first week of May, BCCI suspended the tournament infinitely.

BCCI has been waiting for a decision on the status of T20 World Cup in Australia scheduled initially for October-November this year, the postponement of which is imminent.

Citing the ambiguity and imminent delay of the T20 World Cup, it has been reported that BCCI has identified that window and has already started planning for the 2020 season of IPL to be held overseas.

As per reports, UAE and Sri Lanka have already put forward their intentions to host the billion-dollar 13th season of IPL but reports of New Zealand making such offer has been put down to rest.

The IPL in the past has been hosted twice overseas; due to general elections in 2009, it was held in South Africa and partly in UAE in 2014 for the same reason.

In 2019, despite general elections, BCCI managed to schedule the tournament avoiding clashing with poll dates in various states.

The official added that the date of the IPL Governing Council meeting would be announced soon and issues pertaining to the league, including the Chinese sponsorship deals in the IPL, will be discussed.