Coronavirus: postponed, played behind closed doors, Indian Premier League (IPL)
The Indian Cricket Control Board (BCCI) has agreed to postpone the Indian Premier League’s 13th season, and while it was originally scheduled to begin on March 29, it will now take place on April 15. The same was communicated to the franchises.
A BCCI official said it had been decided that the best way forward would be to hold the April 15 cash-rich season. “Yes, the internal decision to postpone the start of the tournament has been made, and it will start on April 15, the BCCI has told the franchises about the same,” the official said.
The government revoked all visas on Wednesday, except for a few official categories, in the midst of rising scare until April 15.
At the meeting in the national capital of Nirman Bhavan, it was agreed that all existing visas, except diplomatic, government, UN/international organizations, jobs and project visas, will be suspended until April 15 as the coronavirus outbreak has already seen over 60 positive cases in India.
The BCCI is set to meet with the IPL team owners on Saturday before the start of the IPL Governing Council meeting and then the way forward will be discussed. The franchises are clear that while they’re ok to have the games minus the fans, they want the foreign players because that’s what makes the IPL a cricket-.
“Yeah, we’ve been told that the IPL will now start on April 15, but what we need is clarification about the availability of foreign players. If we don’t have the four foreigners in the teams, the IPL loses its appeal. After all, they’re just as important to the teams as the Indian stars,” a franchise official said.
Meanwhile, the three-match ODI series has also been called off between India and South Africa. The remaining two matches were to be played behind closed doors in Lucknow and Kolkata after the series ‘ first game in Dharmasala got rained off. With BCCI calling off the show the South African team will soon fly back.
