The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at all the possible options including playing in empty stadiums to host IPL 2020, said President Sourav Ganguly. Notably, Ganguly recently wrote a letter to all the members to all affiliated members of the body on the future course of action after COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the 13th season of the T20 blitz was scheduled to commence from March 29. However, BCCI had to postpone it to April 14 after the first lockdown. And with no signs of improvement and the lockdown extended, the Sourav Ganguly-led panel had to defer the tournament for an indefinite period.
Looking at all options to host IPL 2020: Sourav Ganguly
Speculations are going that BCCI is aiming to host the tournament during the September-October window in place of the ICC T20 World Cup. Cricket Australia has admitted that they are not in a stage to host the global tournament which has opened doors for IPL 2020. Speaking on the same lines, Sourav Ganguly said they are looking at every option to host IPL 2020.
“The BCCI is working on all possible options to ensure that we are able to stage the IPL this year, even if it means playing the tournament in empty stadiums,” the letter states.
Furthermore, Sourav Ganguly added that all the cricketing activities have come to a standstill due to COVID-19. He assumed that it is likely to resume in the next two months across the country. He also mentioned that they currently planning the upcoming domestic seasons in a bid to make it more competitive.
“The BCCI is in the process of developing a COVID-19 Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for all State Cricket Associations. Essentially this SOP is being made with a view of providing our Members with a standard set of guidelines which will help the associations to resume cricket in their respective areas,” Ganguly wrote in his letter to all affiliated members.