Sharjah, Sep 20 (TIWN) Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), visited the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday and "expressed his satisfaction" with the venue's preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning on Saturday.

Sharjah will host 12 matches of the IPL and is one of the venues besides Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The T20 tournament will kick start on Saturday with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings.  According to a media release, Shah was accompanied by Waleed Bukhatir, vice chairman of Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Khalaf Bukhatir, MD of Bukhatir Group and CEO of Sharjah Cricket Stadium.  The Sharjah stadium recently underwent major renovation, including setting up of new canopies, an upgraded royal suite, commentary box and VIP Hospitality boxes in total compliance with COVID-related protocols.  A few days back, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had visited the facility and expressed his delight at the arrangements.