Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 is at risk after Coronavirus cases are rising in India. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to take a call on the upcoming IPL season, and there are chances that it may get called off or the matches could be played behind closed doors.
A BCCI official talked to NDTV and revealed about the possibility of the tournament being played in closed stadiums.
"We are discussing the possibility of playing IPL behind closed doors," the official said. "Compensation for teams to be discussed on Saturday," the official added.
BCCI will have to follow the guidelines of the Health Ministry and avoid large gatherings. "The sports ministry has asked all national federations, including the BCCI, to follow the Health Ministry's advisory and avoid large gatherings in sports events keeping in mind the novel coronavirus pandemic," news agency PTI reported.
"We have asked all the NSFs (National Sports Federations), including the BCCI, to follow the Health Ministry's latest advisory, which says public gatherings should be avoided in all events, including sporting activities," PTI quoted Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya as saying.
A final decision on the tournament will be taken on March 14 by the IPL governing council.
Foreign players will not be allowed to play in IPL till April 15 after the government's latest advisory. An official told NDTV, "IPL is unique because players come and leave, teams still have enough in their reserve to put 11 men out in the park."
(WITH NDTV INPUTS)
