I am sure there are many people like me who dread to read the dailies or switch on their TVs these days. There is nothing but coronavirus headlines, death toll, etc. The only palatable news is on the sports front. What made my day was the announcement that finally the Indian Premier League is set to get rolling (“Indian cricket board gives green light to UAE offer of hosting IPL 2020,” July 26, Gulf Today).

It is a matter of pride for the UAE that in a little over a month’s time some of the world’s best cricketers will descend in the country for the 13th edition of the IPL which is currently scheduled to be played between September and November.

The IPL is a tournament unique in many respects. While it is looked at mostly as a cash cow marquee T20 tournament boasting of a line-up of some of the world’s best players, many forget that it also serves as a unique platform for upcoming cricketers.

It would have been quite a disappointment and morale-crushers for new players who are drafted for this year’s tournament, had it been cancelled.

Apart from that quite a bit of the money that comes in with the IPL is also used by the BCCI for development of domestic cricket and ensuring that even those who do not play the IPL can make ends meet. So there is much more than glamour surrounding the IPL. Keep it going.

Farol Dias — By email