IPL 2021 news: Will crowd be allowed to watch IPL 2021 matches in the UAE?

Will crowd be allowed in IPL 2021: Spectators weren’t allowed inside the stadium in the first phase of Indian Premier League 2021.

Played in India in the absence of spectators, IPL 2021 had to be brought to a halt midway through the tournament due to a steep increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

It was in the last week of May, merely four weeks after the tournament was suspended, that BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) had confirmed the time of year and venue for the second phase of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League.

Having successfully hosted the 13th season of the IPL, UAE was the obvious selection as a front-runner for holding the remainder of IPL 2021 as well. At that point in time, the stakeholders were positive about the presence of spectators (partial if not full) inside the stadiums.

“The vaccinated fans can be allowed up to 50 per cent of the [stadium] capacity,” a UAE board official had told the reporters according to a report.

Will crowd be allowed to watch IPL 2021 matches?

With IPL 2021 approximately a month away, nothing has been confirmed by the BCCI with respect to spectators’ presence inside the three venues namely Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi), Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai) and Sharjah Cricket Stadium (Sharjah).

Having said that, ECB (Emirates Cricket Board) General Secretary Mubashir Usmani has revealed that they are working with the closely with the local authorities for them to allow fans into the stadiums for the cash-rich league.

“As hosts, ECB will work closely with the authorities to seek approval on what protocols need to be followed — this includes fan attendance, we will then discuss it with the BCCI as well as the ICC to assess their spectator requirements. We want our ex-pat and Emirati sports-loving fans in the UAE to be able to watch the action from the stands,” Usman was quoted as saying recently.

ALSO READ: When and where will IPL 2021 Phase 2 matches will be played?

The second phase of IPL 2021 could well begin with a restricted amount of spectators in the stadium. As the tournament progresses, the number of spectators could be increased or be increased especially for the knockout phase of the tournament.