IPL in the UAE: Full schedule announced as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah host T20 bonanza

IPL in the UAE: Full schedule announced as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah host T20 bonanza

Abu Dhabi is to host the opening match of IPL 7, organisers have confirmed, with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Kolkata Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on April 16.

That match is one of seven that the UAE capital will stage in total with Dubai boasting the same amount of the allotted 20 while the remaining six will be played in Sharjah.

Dubai's first match will be a double header on Saturday, April 19 with Mumbai again the headline act as they take on Bangalore Royal Challengers before Kolkata take on Delhi Daredevils

 

Before then Sharjah will host Match 2 on Thursday, April 17 as Bangalore take on Delhi Daredevils before it's back to the capital for a double dose of action on the Friday - Chennai Super Kings vs. Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals.

Dubai will host the final match of the first phase of this year's tournament on April 30 with the meeting of Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The action could then switch to Bangladesh between May 1-12 if the Indian Home Ministry is unable to provide security in India.

However, a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday suggested that the tournament could yet return home on May 1. when voting would be over in most states.

The seventh edition of the T20 extravaganza will feature only eight teams - one less than last year after the Pune Warriors franchise was terminated.

It means there will only be 60 matches in 2014 - down 16 from 12 months ago.

FULL UAE SCHEDULE:

Match 1
Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
2:30pm GMT, Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 2
Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
2:30pm GMT, Thursday, April 17, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 3
Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab
10:30am GMT, Friday, April 18, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 4
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
2:30pm GMT, Friday, April 18, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 5
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
10:30am GMT, Saturday, April 19, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 6
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
2:30pm GMT, Saturday, April 19 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 7
Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
2:30pm GMT, Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 8
Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils
2:30pm GMT, Monday April 21, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 9
Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
2:30pm GMT, Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 10
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
2:30pm GMT, Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 11
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
2:30pm GMT, Thursday, April 24, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 12
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils
10:30am GMT, Friday, April 25, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 13
Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
2:30pm GMT, Friday, April 25, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 14
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
10:30am GMT, Saturday, April 26, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 15
Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders
2:30pm GMT, Saturday, April 26, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 16
Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians
10:30am GMT, Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 17
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings
2:30pm GMT, Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 18
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab
2:30pm GMT, Monday, April 28, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 19
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
2:30pm GMT, Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 20
Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
2:30pm GMT, Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai