Three-time IPL winning franchise Chennai Super Kings have rejected the idea of having only Indian players in near future. The idea was floated by Rajasthan Royals, which was keen on having the tournament despite the travel restrictions due to COVID 19 pandemic.
The IPL, which is indefinitely postponed, can be held in the September-October window if the scheduled T20 World Cup in Australia doesn't take place.
"CSK is not keen to do an IPL with only Indian players. That way it would be playing another Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (domestic T20 competition). The franchise has not been in touch with the BCCI of late as the situation is worsening. Let's hope we can have the IPL later this year,” a CSK source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
IPL 2020: BCCI treasurer confirms receiving offer to host IPL 13 in UAE
BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal also admitted that the Indian board will incur a huge loss of the IPL 2020 doesn’t happen at all. "The board will take a revenue hit of Rs 4000 crore if it doesn't happen. The board will be in a big problem," he told PTI earlier this week.
However, with the number of cases rising every week, the franchises see no point in discussing the event with the BCCI.
"There has been no discussion with the BCCI ever since it postponed the IPL. There is no point in discussing also as things are unlikely to be okay anytime soon. We expect the BCCI to take the best possible decision when the time comes,” the CSK source said.
For the IPL to happen with foreign players, travel restrictions, which are currently in place, will have to be eased. Sri Lanka and UAE have offered to host the IPL for BCCI given that they have successfully flattened the curve of COVID 19 cases.
Last month, Rajasthan Royals executive chairman Ranjit Barthakur had said the franchise was open to a shortened IPL with only Indian players. "Earlier we could not think of an Indians-only IPL but now there is enough quality to choose from. It is better to have an Indians-only IPL than not have it at all," he had told PTI.
(PTI inputs)
