Kevin Pietersen reveals where and when postponed IPL 2021 should take place

Kevin Pietersen says the postponed Indian Premier League should be held in the UK this summer.

The BCCI are weighing up their options for where and when the 2021 IPL can be rescheduled following the tournament’s postponement last week.

The eight franchises were halfway through the group stage when the tournament was postponed amid the coronavirus crisis in India and a number of positive tests among the teams.

Pietersen admits the BCCI had ‘no option’ but to postpone the tournament and says it could be rescheduled to take place in England at the end of the summer.

‘I have seen people talking about the UAE as a possible destination to finish the IPL in September but I actually think that the IPL should move to the UK,’ the former England captain told Betway.

‘There is a window in September after the England v India Test series has finished. All the best Indian players would already be there and all of the best English players would be available as well.

‘Mid-to-late September is the most beautiful time in the UK. They could use Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and the two London grounds.

‘I have played internationals against India – one in particular in a World T20 against India at Lord’s – when it has felt like an away game because of how well Indian cricket is supported in the UK.

‘Sadiq Khan has spoken about wanting to bring the IPL to London and Surrey were agreeing with it. There is also a good chance that crowds will be allowed in the grounds and there will be great atmospheres.

‘The IPL has been to the UAE, it’s been to South Africa, and I think England would now be the perfect place to house the remaining fixtures.’

On the decision to postpone the tournament, Pietersen added: ‘Unfortunately, the BCCI had no option but to postpone the IPL after the bubbles burst and players and coaches were becoming infected.

‘I definitely bought into the fact that continuing the tournament initially was a positive thing for India. The country is not in a good way but I felt that providing six hours of entertainment each day was certainly a positive thing.

‘We were doing a job for all of India, creating a show to give people some relief. I thought that the package the players were delivering was fantastic.

‘But once players tested positive then there was going to be an awful lot of pressure on the BCCI to postpone the tournament and I do believe that they had little choice.’

Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Source: Read Full Article