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

IPL 2021 crowd: The first phase of Indian Premier League 2021 was played without spectators watching live matches in the stadiums.

With the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) confirming the venue and hinting at the dates to conduct the remainder of Indian Premier League 2021, board members have now started working towards the implementation of the second phase.

According to Cricbuzz, secretary Jay Shah, treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal, vice-president Rajeev Shukla and joint secretary Jayesh George landed in Dubai today to work on the logistical arrangements for IPL 2021. Given how the tournament had to be postponed earlier this month, BCCI wouldn’t want another lapse from any angle in the second phase.

IPL 2021 crowd

There is no hiding to the fact that conducting IPL 2021 in between the tour of England and the ICC T20 World Cup would be asking a lot from cricketers who will have to travel between three bio-secure bubbles. The same would be the case for overseas players as most of them will be coming from either an international bio-bubble or Caribbean Premier League bubble to the IPL.

Considering India’s current COVID-19 status, there are high chances of the T20 World Cup also shifting to the UAE (official backup option). While BCCI have sought time till the first week of July from the ICC (International Cricket Council), it would be a huge task to conduct a world event in multiple cities in India.

The probable development means that cricket fans in UAE will have not one but two major tournaments to look forward to later this year. If a report in Cricbuzz is to be believed, there are plans of allowing fans to watch IPL 2021 matches live from the stadiums provided they have vaccinated for COVID-19.

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

The fact that a large number of people in the UAE have already been vaccinated means that there are strong chances of the second phase of IPL 2021 being played in front of spectators.