As Indian Premier League (IPL) suspended midway this year due to pandemic, fantasy sports operators(FSO) have been concentrating more on Europe leagues and so on. Definitely it was a loss for the FSOs as the sporting event halted half way many predicted that the tournament might not happen this year as T20 World Cup is scheduled for October-November in 2021. However, on Saturday it was made clear that the remainder of the 2021 IPL season will happen in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), during the September-October window, exactly like IPL 2020.
In a Special General Meeting chaired by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, has confirmed to the State units that the tournament will have be shifted out of India because of ‘monsoon.’
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced to complete the remaining matches of VIVO Indian Premier League 2021 season in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) considering the monsoon season in India in the months of September-October this year. The decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume IPL. The BCCI SGM further authorised the Office Bearers to seek an extension of time from the ICC to take an appropriate call on the hosting of ICC T20 World Cup 2021,” BCCI said in a release.
The IPL was postponed after a bunch of new COVID-19 cases emerged within players and support staff from Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders,  and SunRisers Hyderabad and all other teams tested positive for the virus. And hosting a sporting event in such condition was next to important. When IPL was suspended it hit hard to the fantasy sports operators as IPL is no less than Diwali for the fraternity and that is one of the time where the platforms ear more revenue. As fantasy sports platforms directly dependent on the sporting events therefore, the sudden halt of the popular sporting event IPL will also reflect in the fantasy sports business. Thus many aimed to expand their businesses into other online games like Rummy or concentrating the focus towards international matches and so on.
Almost as many as 29 matches were held this season before the tournament suspended. Now that the BCCI confirmed that the remainder of the tournament will be happening this year itself it will give fantasy sports operators the sigh of relief as they will able to gain revenue and reach the yearly mark of users and profit. No dates has been announced yet but it is confirmed that the remainder match is happening.