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From left: Ranjib Biswal, Chairman IPL Governing Council,Sunil Gavaskar, Interim Persident BCCI-IPL, Dr Tayeb A Kamali, Chairman Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, and Dr Ahmad Al Sharif, Secretary General Dubai Sports Council, during the Media Conference of IPL in Dubai. Image Credit: ATIQ-UR-REHMAN/Gulf News

Dubai: Sunil Gavaskar, the interim president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), says he wants to oversee a controversy-free edition of the Indian Premier League.

Speaking at a well-attended launch conference in Dubai on Wednesday, the former India captain said: “After the final on June 2, I want people to remember IPL-7 for the cricket, not any controversies.”

The UAE will host the first 20 matches of the tournament from April 16 to 30 at three venues — Shaikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium — while India holds a general election.

It was announced at the press conference that tickets for the UAE leg of IPL-7 will go on sale online on Thursday from the www.iplt20.com and www.ticketmaster.com websites.

Selected Lulu Hypermarkets across the UAE will also be selling tickets, while in-stadium sales will begin on April 10.

Tickets for Abu Dhabi cost Dh20 for a single match and Dh30 for a double-header, while Dubai matches cost Dh30 and Dh50 and Sharjah Dh30 and Dh40.