As per the sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keeping an eye on a window between July and September for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Earlier, the scheduled date was on March 29. Due to the pandemic, Corona Virus the BCCI pushed back the starting date to April 15. However, according to the officials, there are high chances that the tournament being shifted abroad if not played in India but it will depend on the virus situation then.
“The 2009 IPL – in South Africa – was played inside 37 days. That’s five weeks and two days. If that kind of a window is made available, the IPL can be held partly in India and partly overseas, or the entire tournament can be shifted, depending on how the Covid-19 situation is globally,” a source quoted according to TOI.
On the other hand, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly also hinted that the tournament can be a curtailed one. However, the current FTP gives an option between July and September.
“With every week lost from a minimum of 37 days, nine to 11 matches have to be shaved off,” an industry executive claimed.
The IPL, except South Africa, has been played in the UAE once due to election dates clashing with the tournament. The Pakistan Super League (PSL), New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa’s tour of India has been postponed already. Along with this, many other sporting events such as the Premier League, Serie A, and Champions League have also been cancelled, largely due to the damage caused by the spread of COVID-19 across the globe.
Read here: The Future of IPL 2020 at Stake?
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. 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.
