If sources are to be believed, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is targeting a window between July and September for the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Earlier, the scheduled date of commencement was on March 29. Due to the growing outrage of a global pandemic namely Corona Virus, led to the tournament being pushed back to April 15.
According to officials close to the board, there are high possibilities of the tournament being shifted abroad if not played in India. The decision will be subjected to the virus situation then.
“The 2009 IPL – in South Africa – was played inside 37 days. That’s five weeks and two days. If that kind of a window is made available, the IPL can be held partly in India and partly overseas, or the entire tournament can be shifted, depending on how the Covid-19 situation is globally,” a source quoted according to TOI.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly also hinted that the tournament will be a curtailed one, given the nature of scheduling in the FTP. However, the current FTP provides appropriate breathing space for the players between July and September.
“With every week lost from a minimum of 37 days, nine to 11 matches have to be shaved off,” an industry executive claimed.
The IPL, apart from South Africa, has been played in the UAE earlier due to election dates clashing with the tournament.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL), New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa’s tour of India has been postponed.
Many other sporting events such as the Premier League, Serie A, and Champions League have also been suspended, largely owing to the damage caused by the spread of COVID-19.
