Punjab Kings upset after seeing the reported list of venues for IPL 2021

The Punjab Kings (formerly known as Kings XI Punjab) have rebranded the franchise ahead of IPL 2021. Punjab has never won the IPL before. They made it to the IPL Final in 2014, where they suffered a close defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders. 

The Punjab Kings have a very strong group of players for IPL 2021. However, it seems like the Kings might not get a single opportunity to play in front of their home fans in IPL 2021. 

In case you did not know, BCCI has reportedly shortlisted six cities - Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad to host IPL 2021. Since neither Mohali nor Dharamshala received a spot there, the Punjab Kings officials were disappointed. 

“We have written to the IPL asking them to throw light on how they have decided on these venues and why also have they decided not to hold the IPL in Punjab,” Punjab Kings CEO Nitin Menon told ESPN.

Another upset PBKS official stated that the fans in Punjab would not get a chance to witness IPL matches live in the stadium for the second successive year. Thus, the franchise official was unhappy. 

“Whatever we hear we are hearing from media. IPL Governing council hasn’t communicated anything to us till date about the venues or the schedule. It will be heartbreaking for our local fans if our home city miss out on the IPL matches. It will be 2nd year in succession that IPL matches will not be conducted in our cities. We are really upset about the situation

Another franchise official mentioned that the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Mumbai Indians, the Delhi Capitals, and the Chennai Super Kings will have home advantage in IPL 2021. However, the Punjab Kings will not have the same. Hence, the official believed PBKS’s chances of qualifying for playoffs would reduce.