Citing the growing prevailing situation due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic in India, former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla has ruled out the chances of staging the IPL 2020 anytime soon, saying the priority is to fight the deadly COVID-19 virus and save people at the moment.
The 13th edition of the IPL 2020, which was slated to commence on March 29, was suspended till April 15 due to the global Coronavirus pandemic which is now wreaking havoc in the country with the COVID-19 cases rising to 6800 with 229 death till now. The disease also claimed over 83000 lives globally so far.
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India has already imposed a 21-day lockdown across the country to curb the spread of the deadly virus, but now there are high chances of extension of the ongoing lockdown in the country and Shukla believes that it is impossible to start the IPL 2020 by April 15 as there are no preparations.
The former IPL chief also said that the fate of the cash-rich league totally depends on the government’s decision given the current challenging situations in the country.
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Shukla told ANI on Friday (April 10): “I don't see any preparation; our priority is to fight coronavirus and save people. See it will all depend on the government what decision they will take. We will go by the government decision. We are hearing that lockdown may extend in this situation if you think IPL can happen by April 15 so it seems not possible.”
Insisting no match is possible in the current situation, Shukla said the foreigners traveling in India is restricted at the moment when he was asked about whether foreign players will participate in the IPL.
(With ANI Inputs)
