IPL in the UAE: Mumbai to meet Kolkata in Abu Dhabi

Dubai: The UAE will host 20 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, starting with Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi on April 16, organisers announced on Wednesday.

The IPL-7 roadshow will be in the country until April 30 after state governments could not guarantee security for the matches due to Indian general elections. The second phase of the tournament will be played in either India or Bangladesh, with the final stages set for India.

First phase games will be played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, beginning at 6.30pm on weekdays and with double-headers at 2.30pm and 6.30pm on weekends.

The organisers will be announcing the schedule for the remaining 40 matches in due course.