The 13th edition of IPL 2020 which was scheduled to begin on March 29th but got suspended till 15th April due to the Coronavirus pandemic which has seized the world could possibly be delayed further in the light of a probable lockdown extension, nationwide. This comes after as many as 5 states including Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal have announced the extension of the lockdown within state-boundaries till end-April.
Even after the lockdown is lifted, it also needs to be seen that visa restrictions are lifted to allow cricketers from across the globe to join in on the tournament. Nonetheless, there is still a possibility for the IPL 2020 to be hosted in a September-October window.
In a conversation with the Indian Express, Ganguly said, “Practically speaking, when life has come to a standstill everywhere in the world, where does sport have a future in this,” as he referred to the lockdown and travel restrictions in many countries.
The BCCI will work with all stakeholders to find a solution once the situation normalizes. It is unfeasible for BCCI dignitaries to commit at which particular slot the IPL can happen and cancellation of the IPL means losses of approximately ₹3000 crores according to the BCCI official who conversed with PTI on the condition of anonymity.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awaits the union government’s decision prior to making an official declaration. A final decision is anticipated on Monday when the President of the Board of Control for Cricket, Sourav Ganguly, speaks to the officials.
According to Sportstar, one of the franchise owners, too, admitted that at this point of time, an IPL is ‘out of question’. “The safety of people comes first. Everything else can wait. We are in touch with the BCCI and we will have to take a collective decision,” the owner said.
