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Dwayne Bravo ( Image Credit: BCCI/IPL)
The 15th season of the Indian T20 League is all set to start on March 26. The tournament was expected to start in the final week of March. However, a confirmed date was pending. The board had announced a tentative date of March 27. However, the host broadcaster Star wanted the board to start the tournament on March 26, on Saturday. The reason for the same was to have a doubleheader on Sunday. The request has now been accepted by the BCCI. The decision was taken in the Governing Council meeting held virtually.
Meanwhile, the council also confirmed that the tournament will be played in Maharashtra. 55 matches will be played in Mumbai, while 15 games will be staged in Pune. Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium will host 20 matches, while 15 games each will be played at Brabourne Stadium and Maharashtra Cricket Stadium.
The development was confirmed by ITL chairman Brijesh Patel to Cricbuzz. A decision on allowing crowds for the matches is still pending. "The IPL will kick off on March 26, the full schedule will come soon. We will also have crowds but as per the policy of the Maharashtra government. Whether it will be 25 or 50 per cent of the stadium capacity will be decided by the government instruction," the IPL chairman told Cricbuzz.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has also identified four stadiums where teams will be allowed to practice. BKC ground in Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, Brabourne Stadium in South Mumbai, DY Patil ground in Navi Mumbai and either MCA Ground in Kandivali or in Thane will be used as practice grounds. Teams will be allowed to practice at the time slot allotted by the BCCI.
Meanwhile, it is learned that BCCI is planning to host the Women's edition of the Indian T20 League next year. "There have also been decisions with regard to Women's IPL, which the BCCI is contemplating starting next year. Cricbuzz understands that the Women's games will be held this year like before (a la Women's T20 Challenge), but a "serious effort" will be made to start a women's IPL from next year on," read a report from Cricbuzz.