The Government of Maharastra has blocked the ticket sales of the IPL 2020 opener between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. The Shiva Sena government has taken this measure to avoid gatherings of people in large numbers amid the spread of Corona Virus in Maharashtra.
The first match of the IPL 13 is scheduled to be played on 29 March. This cricketing extravaganza is scheduling to go on till 24 May with 8 teams competing at their home grounds and traveling for away matches all throughout the country.
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64 people across India have been infected with the spread of coronavirus and the number of positive cases has been steadily increasing day by day. On 11 March, 2 people in Mumbai were tested positive for COVID-19. this takes the number of people affected in Maharashtra up to 7, with 5 cases already found in Pune. Mumbai, being one of the largest populated cities in the world has been in high alert because of the same.
A few days back, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had suggested the government to consider postponing the IPL. Tope said that the threat of serious and we should take every step possible to avoid spreading it. Corona Virus has already claimed more than 3000 lives around the world.
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“There is always a possible danger of spread (of contagious diseases) when large numbers of people gather in one place… Such (IPL) events can always be organized later,” Tope said when he spoke to the on Saturday.
Tope continued as he said that the discussions with the official circles was already on to decide the future of the tournament. They plan to either postpone the IPL or play matches behind close doors. Their decision on the same is expected to be announced shortly.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has also insisted that there isn’t any change in IPL’s schedule as of now. He has also reaffirmed everyone that the IPL will only take after the abiding to the advice of the doctors.
“We will take all precautions. I don’t know exactly what these are, it’s only the medical team which will tell us about that. The medical team is already in touch with the hospitals so that everything is available,” Ganguly said.
