IPL 2020: “Can pull off IPL 13 even if 1st game is played in start of May,” says BCCI official

The IPL 13 has been postponed to April 15 due to COVID-19 outbreak.

The Coronavirus pandemic has put a temporary halt at all the cricketing activities all over the world. International and domestic cricket has been called off in every country of the world including T20 leagues as well.

Pakistan called off PSL 5 on the day of knockouts and the 13^th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was to start on March 29, was postponed to April 15, is also in doldrums as the COVID-19 has been spreading like wildfire in the country. India has recorded more than 400 cases with eight deaths so far.

IPL 2020: Tournament likely to be delayed further amid rising COVID-19 cases in India, claims report

However, the BCCI believes that it can still pull off the league if things come under control by April end and the first game is played by the first week of May.

An unnamed BCCI official said that currently, it is difficult to predict the fate of the league, but the tournament can still be played if the first match is played at the start of May.

"The latest we can wait is till the end of April. If the first game isn't played by the first week of May then it will be almost impossible to have the league this year. Even if we have to wait till the end of April to follow all the procedures, we can take a cue from the South Africa edition and conduct the league successfully. If you remember, that was the shortest IPL with 59 games played over 37 days and we can do the same. But certain measures will have to be taken," the official said.

The Official mentioned that logistics was an issue and that the tournament may be placed in a state like Maharashtra, which has four international stadiums in Wankhede, Brabourne and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, and MCA Stadium in Pune.

"You cannot travel around the country in such a scenario. If we get the necessary permissions, we will have to stick to a place like Maharashtra where we have three stadiums in Mumbai and a stadium in Pune. I am sure this will then help us ensure that teams not only get fresh wickets to play but also there is minimal travel involved. But before that, the government must deem it fit to organised tournaments. Public and player safety is the priority as the BCCI President has time and again said," the official explained.

The Sports Ministry has already mentioned that the fate of IPL 13 will only be decided when it comes out with a fresh advisory on April 15. The minister Kiren Rijiju said that though the decision to defer IPL rests in the hands of the BCCI, the pandemic is something which has a direct effect on the lives of the citizens of the country.

(IANS inputs)