The BCCI and the IPL governing council are fretting over the schedule of the IPL 2024 season next year. It is believed that there is a small possibility of the second half of the season being played outside India due to the 2024 government general elections.
According to reports, the Indian general election 2024 is expected to be held between April and May 2024. This clashes with the second half of the IPL 2024.
The BCCI is also facing a tight deadline to complete the IPL 2024 by the May 24 as the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies starts on June 4.
India’s last Test against England of the 5-Test series at home concludes on March 11. So this gives the BCCI the chance to start the IPL by March 20, though the players in the Test series might want some more rest after a gruelling 5-Test series in the hot Indian summer.
Second half of IPL 2024 could be played outside India
According to sources, the BCCI is planning to start the IPL by the third/fourth week of March. But there is a cloud over whether they will be given enough security by the police personnel to play the tournament in April-May during the election time.
There is a remote chance that the BCCI and the IPL council may even eventually decide to shift the second half of the IPL 2024 outside India. If it does happen, then the UAE is looking has the highest probability venue for the BCCI as there is no rain threat in the UAE, as it does with Sri Lanka, and the timing in the UAE matches that of the Indian audience.
This uncertainty of the venue for IPL 2024 will trouble and cause some worries for the IPL franchise owners and management as the mini-auction is scheduled for December 19. The IPL owners and team managements would want more clarity over the venues to prepare their strategies and plans for the mini-auction. If the tournament is shifted to the UAE, then they might want to add some more pacers instead of spinners, which would be more effective in Indian conditions than in the UAE.
