Multiple COVID-19 cases inside the bubble led to the BCCI suspending the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this week. However, the tournament will definitely return later this year. As of now, England, UAE and Australia have emerged as the potential venues even as the Indian board is mulling the September window to stage the remainder of IPL 2021.

India as the venue is certainly not in question after what happened recently. Even the overseas players won’t be willing to come given the havoc wrecked by the second wave of COVID-19 in the country. This leaves BCCI with the only option of shifting the competition away from home not for the first time in its 14-year rich history.

Three suggestions have come up to finish IPL 2021
The first option to finish the remaining 31 matches of IPL 2021 is the tried and tested one and that is move it to the United Arab Emirates where the 2020 season was played without any hiccups. After India’s tour of England ends on September 14, the players can travel to the UAE and finish off the quarantine in a week or so to play in IPL before T20 World Cup begins on October 22, possibly in the same country.

“If the World Cup is shifted, the whole scheduling will get re-worked anyway. Weather will be a problem because September remains a very hot month and UAE only begins to cool down October onwards,” the sources said. Interestingly, UK is being looked at as a more viable option as of now as the BCCI can make use of the end of English summer to conclude the league.

Team India will be anyways based in the same country since June while the weather will be decent for cricket as well. “The weather will be good for cricket. It will suit the broadcaster too because the time zones can be adjusted and overseas players from outside of India and England will be willing to travel,” the sources further added.

The final option is to move the IPL to Australia which will definitely need a .