United
Arab Emirates will stage the initial phase of the IPL while
Bangladesh was kept on standby for some of the
matches by the BCCI, ending weeks of speculation over the venues of the
high-profile event which was today scheduled from April 16 to June 1.
The
tournament, which had to be partly shifted out of the country owing to the
general elections, will return to India for the final phase from May 13 though
the BCCI has sought the government's permission to stage matches in the country
from May 1 itself. The early return to India would be possible only if the
government agrees to provide security to the tournament in states where polling
would have concluded at that stage.
"The
BCCI is pleased to announce that the 2014
Pepsi IPL season will start on Wednesday 16th April 2014, and conclude on Sunday, 1st June 2014," Board Secretary Sanjay Patel said in a
statement.
The
initial phase of the tournament would be played out at three venues in the UAE - Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah from
April 16 to 30.
"From
Wednesday 16th April to Wednesday 30th April, at least 16 matches will be held
in the United Arab Emirates. BCCI is very grateful to the Emirates Cricket
Board, its Chairman, HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, and the government
of the UAE for their offer of wholehearted support to host the Pepsi IPL for
this period," the BCCI stated.
The
second half has been tentatively kept in Bangladesh but could be held in India
if the BCCI manages to get the government's clearance.