Team India this year were scheduled to tour Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka after the Indian Premier League. India was slated to tour Sri Lanka in late June for 3 ODI and T20 matches. Afterwards, they were scheduled to tour Zimbabwe and play 3 ODI matches.
But as expected the inevitable has happened and BCCI has called off both tours. BCCI has decided not to go ahead with the tours due to the “threat” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was a slight chance that India could play Sri Lanka in July, but that will not take place now. The number of Coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka was very low and it looked as if team India could return and play cricket. BCCI although have decided against it but Sri Lanka cricket is hopeful of hosting India in August later this year.
India tour of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe cancelled
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced that the Indian Cricket Team will not travel to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe owing to the current threat of COVID-19”, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a media release on Friday.
Now chances of India going to South Africa to play 3 T20s in late august also looks highly unlikely. Cricket South Africa had proposed a series between the two sides after India Zimbabwe tour.
BCCI, however, is still hopeful of playing this year’s IPL in September and October provided the government gives there clearance. Brijesh Patel the chairman of the league’s governing council, has stated the future of IPL depends upon the Asia cup and T20 world cup.
IPL still a possibility: Brijesh Patel
Both events were scheduled to be played in September and October respectively this year. The ICC is still to decide the final fate of the T20 world cup that was supposed to be played in Australia this year.
“Yes, we are looking at those dates, but it all depends on the future of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup. Subject to that we are planning the window for the IPL”.
“Again, it depends on how the situation is in September-October. We have to go by the government directive. First, we need the go-ahead from the government. You can’t play a World Cup in empty stadiums. But the IPL being a league, it can be staged behind closed doors. The official broadcaster is OK with that and so are the players because they want to play”, Patel told Indian Express.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly also wrote a letter to all the state associations earlier this week and asked them to stay optimistic about IPL taking place this year. BCCI will be ready to play the IPL behind closed doors if needed keeping the safety of all players in mind.
