IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel on Tuesday has ruled out the idea of any threat to the upcoming T20 league – Indian Premier League due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in India as of now but also said that the authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation as well. Even Sourav Ganguly too cleared the air. The much-awaited IPL will begin with a game between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29 while the final will take place on May 24 as well.

While he was asked if there is any threat to IPL due to coronavirus, Patel said, “There is no threat as of now and we are keeping a tab (on the situation).”

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly also ruled out that there is any threat to the IPL or the South Africa series which will begin with the first ODI on March 12 at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.

“Nothing in India. Not even discussed it (Coronovirus)'” said Sourav Ganguly.

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Another senior BCCI official also said that the South African team are coming according to the schedule for the three-match ODI series. The deadly virus, which has killed over 3,100 people and infected over 90,000 globally, has damaged havoc on the international calendar of various sporting events across the globe as well and has even put the upcoming Tokyo Olympics under doubt too.

Moreover, there are a few cases of the virus infection have also been reported in India too. Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root also said that his players will not shake hands on their tour of Sri Lanka to avoid the dangerous coronavirus. Root was asked on the coronavirus on Monday as England were preparing to depart for their two-Test tour. However, he said that instead of shaking hands, England players will greet each other with fist bumps. Earlier England was hit by a series of gastroenteritis and flu issues during the first Test on their tour of South Africa in recent times.