The coronavirus pandemic has pushed the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 till further notice. However, cancelling the cash-rich event would cost the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) more than half a billion dollars. In the latest development, the board is looking to move IPL 2020 out from the country.
The tournament was scheduled to begin on March 29 with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and last year’s runners-up Chennai Super Kings. But, the virus outbreak has postponed the event without a fixed date.
IPL 2020 to take place out of India?
There is no clarity on whether the IPL 2020 will take place this year or not. But the Indian cricket board is analysing, discussing and debating all options available to ensure IPL happens. Even if it means shifting it out of India, in any window that will be available during the year.
Previously, the countries like UAE and Sri Lanka have offered to host the tournament. However, BCCI is yet to decide on the matter. The board official revealed that cases are constantly raising in those countries as well.
“If it is safe for our players to play IPL in India, then it would be our first preference but in case the situation does not permit and we are not left with any choice and a window is available then we can look at moving IPL 2020 out of India,” Dhumal said to Times now.
“No country is safe from the Covid-19 pandemic so it’s not going to be easy if we decided to shift IPL out of the country and take players to Sri Lanka, Dubai or South Africa. The situation is almost the same everywhere, international travel restrictions are also a problem.
“Sri Lanka was okay but in the last couple of days cases have risen there so problems are there, we need to deal with them,” he added.
Well, it would be interesting to see how things would pan out in the upcoming few weeks. Most likely, the BCCI would wait for the decision of ICC on the upcoming T20 World Cup in October before taking a final call.
