Coronavirus has affected not only everyone’s lives but also sporting events across the globe which included the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League where no decision took place during Monday’s teleconference by the eight IPL franchise owners as the situation has not changed much in the last few days amid the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country as well as globally.
Earlier the BCCI has postponed the start date of the tournament from March 29 to April 15 as India currently reported 114 positive cases and two deaths for COVID-19 so far. While all the foreign visas have already been put on hold till April 15, the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said that a “truncated IPL” can take place where a minimum 17 days already lost.
“Nothing concrete was discussed in today’s meeting (con-call). It was just a follow up meeting. The situation has not changed in 48 hours, so talking about hosting the IPL is still pre-mature,” an IPL franchise owner said to PTI on conditions of anonymity. “We have to wait and watch. We will keep doing these con calls on a weekly basis to take stock of the situation.”
Read here: BCCI Share the Possible Option of IPL Taking Place
The other options which are available in case the situation improves by April 15, is dividing the teams into two groups with top four qualifying teams will go for the knock-outs. Also, there are possibilities of increasing the number of double-headers in a short time or having matches at three or four places in order to limit travel as well. The possibility of having the matches in empty stadiums is also an option for BCCI. While speaking to IANS, an official of one of the franchises told that the owners will have a conference call but things are getting dangerous as the coronavirus has been spreading worldwide.
“We are having a conference call today in the evening and we will discuss the situation, but just look around. Schools, colleges, malls, theaters have all been closed. In fact, even gyms have closed now after the fresh directive from the health department. So, in such a scenario, it is only obvious that we might get to a situation where the league may have to be called off for a season,” the official said.
