IPL 2023 to be held entirely in India, confirms BCCI secretary Jay Shah

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has put an end to speculations about the IPL being moved to the UAE due to the upcoming general elections in India. He confirmed that the entire tournament will be held in India, with the schedule for the remaining matches to be announced soon.

New Delhi, March 16: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put an end to speculations regarding the potential relocation of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the upcoming general elections in India. BCCI secretary Jay Shah firmly stated that the entire IPL will be held within India, dispelling the rumors that had been circulating on social media.

No IPL Shift Despite Election Schedule

Despite the upcoming general elections in India, which will take place in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, the BCCI has made it clear that the IPL will remain in India. Shah emphasized that the remaining schedule for the tournament will be formulated and announced shortly, ensuring that fans can plan accordingly.

Previous Precedents and BCCI's Stance

In previous conversations with the media, Shah had consistently maintained that the entire IPL 2023 would be held in India, similar to the 2019 edition that coincided with the previous Lok Sabha elections. The BCCI was awaiting the official announcement of poll dates by the Election Commission before confirming the schedule.

IPL Chairman Reinforces No Relocation

Earlier in the day, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal echoed Shah's sentiments, dismissing reports of a potential shift to the UAE as baseless. Dhumal asserted that there was no chance of the IPL being held outside of India, further quashing any lingering doubts.

Past Relocation During Elections

It is worth noting that the IPL was previously moved out of India during the general elections in 2014, when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in power. At that time, the first phase of the tournament was held in the UAE before returning to India for the second phase.

With the BCCI's firm stance and the reassurance from both Shah and Dhumal, fans can now eagerly anticipate the upcoming IPL 2023, which promises to deliver thrilling cricket action entirely within India.