New Zealand hosting IPL is speculation: NZC spokesperson

Wellington, July 9

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has refuted reports that it has offered to host the now-postponed Indian Premier League this year, terming the reports as "speculation".

NZC spokesperson Richard Boock said the cricket board had not expressed its interest to host the IPL, which was to be held in March this year but was postponed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The report is simply speculation. We have not offered to host the IPL nor have we had an approach to do so," NZC spokesperson Boock was quoted as saying by Radio New Zealand.

Also read: New Zealand offers to host IPL after UAE and Sri Lanka: BCCI official

Boock's statement came in after a BCCI official stated that New Zealand had also joined along with UAE and Sri Lanka the race to host this year's IPL if it was shifted out of India because of the pandemic.

 The BCCI is eyeing the September-November window to host the event in place of the World T20 in Australia, which is certain to be postponed because of the growing cases of the deadly virus.

If the IPL is taken out of the country, it will be the second such instance.

Its 2009 edition was hosted by South Africa because of the General Elections in India. PTI