PETITION FILED IN BOMBAY HIGH COURT AGAINST CONDUCTING IPL2020 AT THE UAE – REPORT!

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had finalised the dates and venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL) previously last month after receiving permission from the Apex court. The league was hence scheduled to begin on September 19 at UAE. However, a petition has been filed at the Bombay High Court against these proceedings.

Advocate Abhishek Lagoo, the petitioner has asked for the court to direct the BCCI to conduct the league in India, considering the loss of revenue that the country is likely to face if the tournament is held outside the country.

"The IPL is not a charity event. The pandemic has created grave difficulties for all businesses. Holding the IPL in India would prove to be a great economic booster which the country needs desperately," the petition said. This petition is to be heard by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Revati Mohite Dere on August 18, Tuesday.

The petitioner who claimed to be a big fan of the T20 league said that the governments, both central and several states have been relaxing norms in this lockdown. Hence, he suggests that the government can help make arrangements for the IPL to be held within the country by ensuring that the safety protocols and other requirements are not forfeited.

Primarily, the decision to hold IPL2020 in the UAE was taken since the number of positive cases were rapidly increasing in the country. The same situation, however, continues to prevail as India is now among the top few countries in recording the most number of positive coronavirus cases.