Former South Africa batsman Jonty Rhodes is hoping for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be held some stage later this year.
The IPL 2020 was originally due to kickstart on March 29, but is indefinitely postponed at the moment due to the health risk posed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The deadly outbreak has ravaged the entire world. In India, over 7 lakh positive cases and death toll above 20 thousand, have meant the nation is the third worst-hit by the dangerous Coronavirus spread.
"It is very difficult to think of passing the year without IPL. It has been an integral part of the cricket calendar since 2008. From the very beginning, BCCI tries to stage IPL every year," Rhodes told IANS.
"IPL is also very important financially and regarding the future of the players as well. The best players in the world play in it. So it is hard to imagine a year passing without it. To me, it is meaningless to expect the cricket calendar without an IPL."
"Hopefully by the end of the year, the situation, will improve and we can watch the IPL. We know that it will be played in empty stadiums. This time it will be for TV. It will be interesting to see how TV producers create an atmosphere without an audience," he added.
Another major event that is likely to be affected by the pandemic is the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia from October 18 to November 15. The logistical challenge of putting in bio-secure arrangements in place at multiple venues for 16 teams will most probably force the ICC to defer the tournament to another year within the ongoing international FTP cycle.
"In IPL, it will be that the players will come from outside, they will be quarantined, the teams will get tested, but the fans in the IPL will be from India."
"Whereas with the World Cup, it is the fans of other teams who will also come to watch the match. It would be very difficult to stage the tournament in such a situation," said Rhodes.
"The Olympics has also been postponed due to this pandemic. Looking at the current situation, I think there are dark clouds on the T20 World Cup," he added.
(Inputs from IANS)
