In addressing IANS, a franchise officer confirmed that a mail was sent by the IPL Governing Council to inform them that the teams could not depart for the UAE until 20 August.
"We have been informed by a mail from the IPL GC that we can leave for UAE after August 20. So, there is no question of anyone going there before that. The diktat is pretty clear here" officer said
"We have not got the SOPs yet, but we have been given the go-ahead to start preparation and the visa process will start from tomorrow onwards. The hotels have already been blocked so that is no issue. The blueprints are ready" - franchise official
The BCCI is hopeful that the government will transfer the tournament to the UAE in the coming week. 'We are confident of the positive response of the other Ministries,' a BCCI official announced to IANS on Saturday. "We've got the approval from the Sports Ministry."