IPL issued a media release on Wednesday, calling the return of fans a "momentous" occasion and adding that it would allow "limited seating".
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Crowds will be allowed at the IPL for the first time in over two years. The last time we witnessed a full packed stadium at an IPL match was in 2019. However, this time it won’t be a jam-packed stadium, but in limited capacity. IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin relayed that information to the franchises on Tuesday, saying fans will be back for the second half of the IPL in “reduced capacity”. The IPL, which was suspended in early May due to the coronavirus outbreak, resumes from September 19. The tournament will be played at three venues in the UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
NEWS – VIVO IPL 2021 set to welcome fans back to the stadiums.
More details here – https://t.co/5mkO8oLTe3 #VIVOIPL
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 15, 2021
The IPL issued a media release on Wednesday, calling the return of fans a “momentous” occasion and added that it would allow “limited seating” at the three venues due to the UAE government’s regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it did not specify the percentage of tickets that would be put on sale. The exercise, though, will be a rehearsal for both the local governments in the UAE and the BCCI for the 2021 men’s T20 World Cup, which starts on October 17. While the first round of the World Cup will be played in Oman, the Super 12s and the knockouts will be hosted by the UAE.
This is the second edition of the IPL to be played during the pandemic. In 2020, too, the BCCI had shifted the IPL to the UAE where the entire tournament was played behind closed doors. This year’s IPL started in India on April 9, also behind closed doors, but was suspended indefinitely on May 3 after few members from four different franchises at two different venues reportedly tested positive for Covid-19. With the prospect of the outbreak growing further, the BCCI was forced to suspend the tournament after 29 matches.
The primary reason behind bringing back crowds could be the fact that the vast majority of the public in the UAE has been fully vaccinated. However, it is not yet clear on the various conditions put in place for overseas fans. One mandatory rule is likely to be that they need to be fully vaccinated.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on three-time winners Chennai Super Kings in Dubai on September 19 to kickstart the second leg of IPL 2021. The Dubai International Stadium will play host to 13 of the remaining 31 games including the first qualifier and the final. Sharjah will host 10 games including the Eliminator and the second qualifier. Afternoon games will start at 3:30 PM IST (14:00 UAE time) while the regular evening games will begin at 7:30 PM IST (18:00 UAE Time).
Fans can buy tickets for the remainder of the tournament, from September 16, on the official website www.iplt20.com or on PlatinumList.net.
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