There is speculation that the BCCI is eyeing October-November window for IPL 2020 if the T20 World Cup, slated to be played in Australia from October 18 to November 15, gets suspended due to travel restrictions in place in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
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A clearer picture about the window for IPL may emerge if the ICC takes a decision on the fate of this year's T20 World Cup during its board meeting through video conference on June 10.
Meanwhile, West Indies pace legend Michael Holding has said that the BCCI has every right to stage the 13th edition of Indian Premier League later this year, provided that ICC’s flagship event down under is postponed.
"I don't think ICC is delaying the T20 World Cup because they are making space for the IPL. It's the Australian government's law where they are not allowing any visitors into the country before a specific date," Holding said in an Instagram Live with Nikhil Naz.
"But if there is no T20 World Cup, the BCCI has all rights to go ahead and organise a domestic tournament because there's a space. If they are encroaching on other people's tournament, you could say okay," he added.
The ICC Cricket Committee recently recommended a ban on the traditional practice of using saliva to maintain the shine of the ball to avoid potential on-field viral spread.
Sharing his views on the same, Holding said: "First of all, I don't think this saliva ban is a serious problem. The problem with this ban is that the cricketers will take sometime to adjust. It's a natural reaction when you are on the field and you want to shine the ball, you use saliva."
Notably, the Anil Kumble-led committee saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat, which carries less risk of transmission, to polish the cricket ball.
Holding, 66, believes sweat can do the role of shining the ball as effectively as saliva.
"All you need to do is to get moisture on the ball and you can get that from your sweat. You don't have to use the usual saliva. The perspiration from your arm or your forehead will do the same job as saliva. And I've not heard anyone say that COVID-19 can be spread by perspiration.
"I don't think there is any practical problem in banning saliva. It's just a logistical problem of people being accustomed to do it and will have to practice not doing it," he remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
