The 2020 Indian Premier League is likely to begin on September 19 , IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel has told the Press Trust of India.

The reported confirmation comes only three days after Patel revealed that the 13th edition of the tournament will be shifted to the UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic, pending government’s approval.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the IPL 2020 final is expected to be played on either November 8 or November 10. An official announcement is yet to be made by the IPL governing council.

The PTI report states that the decision has been taken to allow the Indian team ample time for quarantine upon their arrival in Australia, with the Test series set to kick off at the Gabba on December 3.

“IPL, in all likelihood, will start on September 19 (Saturday) and the final will be held on November 8 (Sunday),” a senior BCCI official told PTI. “It is a 51-day window which will suit the franchises as well as the broadcasters and other stakeholders.

“The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per the Australian government rules,” the official said. “A delay would have sent the plans haywire. The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and there will be much less double-headers. We could stick to the original five double-headers in a seven-week window.”