Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday left for Dubai to oversee preparations for a bio-secure IPL beginning on Sept. 19.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the opening match of the T20 event, which has been moved to the UAE due to the rising COVID-19 cases in India. “My first flight in 6 months to dubai for IPL…crazy life changes,” Ganguly posted on his Instagram handle with a picture in which he is wearing a mask and face shield, part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while flying amid the pandemic.

The BCCI was able to create a window for the IPL following the postponement of the T20 World Cup in Australia, scheduled for October-November.

The Board would have faced a revenue loss of Rs. 4,000 crore if the tournament, which usually takes place in April-May, had not got the go ahead.

IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel is among the other key officials who are already in Dubai. The tournament, despite its strict health safety measures, has already endured instances of contingent members testing positive for the dreaded virus. CSK has been the worst affected with 13 of its members, including two players, in quarantine after testing positive.

Fans will not be allowed inside stadiums when the league starts but some crowd might be approved in the later stages of the tournament after a review of the COVID-19 situation. The event will be played at three venues — Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.