IPL 2020: Tournament to be postponed by a couple of weeks; games to be held behind closed doors

Franchise owners are ready to play behind closed doors but not without their overseas players.

Delhi government has already banned the hosting of IPL 2020 games in the capital | IANS

The 13th edition of Indian Premier League is likely to be rescheduled and the cash-rich event could be played behind closed doors, claims an India Today report.

See Also: ICC board meeting to be conducted via conference call amid risk of coronavirus spread

According to the report, franchise owners have suggested to push back the T20 tournament by a couple of weeks amid the novel Coronavirus threat, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Meanwhile, foreign players won’t be able to take part in the early stages of IPL 2020, slated to start on March 29, as the Indian government has suspended all existing visas – except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas – till April 15.

Earlier, as per the reports, the franchises had agreed to play behind closed doors but not without their overseas stars.

Keeping in mind the interest of everyone, stakeholders in the IPL 2020 have come up with a formula so that there is no reduction in the number of games. The rescheduling will also allow the foreign cricketers to join the lucrative league from the very start.

On Friday (March 13), Delhi government decided to ban the hosting of IPL 2020 games in the national capital.

"Avoid large gatherings. A lot of people might be thinking about whether it's right to take such extreme measures. In countries where preventive measures are being taken, only there it (coronavirus outbreak) could be regulated otherwise, it keeps spreading. We have told all DMs and SDMs to strictly follow all the coronavirus cases coming up," Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in a media conference.

"We have banned all sports-related gatherings. If BCCI comes up with some new format then it's up to them. But we are banning every such sports activity where there is a possibility of thousands of people gathering. Our intent is to avoid gathering and not stop people from practicing," he added.

Moreover, Maharashtra and Karnataka’s state governments have also expressed their concerns over the staging of IPL 13 at a time when most of the world is taking extreme precautionary measures.

(Inputs from India Today)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 13 Mar, 2020

    Share Via