Sri Lanka’s bid to host the IPL may not have materialised, but it remains a fascinating “what-if” moment in cricket history
Remember 2020? The world ground to a pause, and our favourite cricket venues, typically bustling with ecstatic fans, were eerily quiet. The IPL, initially set to commence on March 29, was postponed to April 15 and then suspended indefinitely. Just when we thought the season was over, Sri Lanka stepped in with an intriguing proposal to host the event.
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Yes, you heard that right! While India grappled with the pandemic, Sri Lanka sought to keep our cricket aspirations alive. Have you ever wondered why things didn’t materialise? Let’s take a brief look at this captivating yet overlooked IPL memory!
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Sri Lanka’s cricket board had its reasons and was not solely centred on sport. Shammi Silva, the head of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), stated that cancelling the IPL would result in losses exceeding $500 million for the BCCI and its partners.
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He mentioned that hosting the event in Sri Lanka would allow the IPL to proceed without the risks that India faced at the time. Moreover, Sri Lanka saw this as an opportunity to boost revenue and enhance its cricket infrastructure.
The proposal to move the IPL outside of India is not new; previous instances include the entire tournament being held in South Africa in 2009 due to the Lok Sabha elections and the first half being staged in the UAE in 2014 for the same reason.
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Therefore, Sri Lanka’s suggestion makes sense given its excellent stadiums, convenient time zone, and lower instances of COVID-19 compared to India.
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Although Sri Lanka was offered as a host, the BCCI ultimately did not consider it, opting instead for the UAE. Having previously hosted the IPL, the UAE possessed superior infrastructure and logistics and experience in managing global cricket events.
Finally, the IPL 2020 took place from September 19 to November 10 in the UAE, with the Mumbai Indians triumphing over the Delhi Capitals in the final.
