Flexibility in rescheduling fixtures will be key, says Faf du Plessis, who is optimistic over the fate of both IPL 2020 and T20 World Cup despite the unprecedented crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The former South Africa captain reiterated the level of priority both tournaments will enjoy when their respective organisers, the BCCI and ICC, go about fitting them into a rejigged FTP.
The IPL 2020 was due to start on March 29 while the T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on October 18 in Australia. The former remains indefinitely postponed, whereas the latter also isn't immune from uncertainty during these difficult times.
"Both IPL and the T20 World Cup (are feasible). We can move these dates. The IPL is flexible, it's looking to move. The same with the World Cup. If it means, you have to move the World Cup by 2 or 3 months, so be it," said Du Plessis on Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'.
"It's still close enough to what it is normally, it's not like you're extending it by 2 years. And the players get to play a World Cup. I am for trying to shift those dates, if you have to. If you don't, then great. I think both tournaments are definitely still an option," he added.
Former Australia pacer Brett Lee said players will be very "keen" to play the IPL whenever on-field play resumes, with quarantine period not much of an issue given the facilities available.
"Absolutely, 100 per cent," he said. "They [Australian players] are super keen. I am super keen to get back to India. Once the safety measures are in place, I think any Australian player would love the opportunity to go and play in the IPL because it's one of the best tournaments."
"I loved playing in the IPL, I love commentating in the IPL. If they (players) have to quarantine for 14 days, absolutely, lock it in."
Du Plessis backed Lee's opinion, but also offered an interesting view on the likely calendar post the pandemic.
"It's important that we as players need to adapt and evolve to what we are currently facing. I am for quarantine for 14 days," he said.
"I think if we start doing that tours might become a lot shorter. So if you play a four-match test series of two months IPL and another 14-day period of quarantine after that, you are looking at three months of touring playing just one team."
"So I'm all for quarantining but at the start, we must play just a two-match series or an IPL that lasts for a month," Du Plessis added.
Given the money at stake for the BCCI and IPL franchises, the board is likely to flex its powerful muscles and have a usual two-month window for the league's 13th edition.
For ICC and its member boards, shifting of T20 World Cup within the next four years, shouldn't result in financial losses of heavy nature, considering the tournament is part of a bundle of events pre-sold to broadcaster, Star Sports, for the FTP cycle till 2023.
(Inputs from India Today)
