Top executives from all eight Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises held discussions on Monday as a follow-up to a meeting with the BCCI two days earlier, with the tournament postponed until April 15 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
While multiple franchise representatives referred to the conference call as a “stock-taking exercise”, the interaction has raised a few eyebrows.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has also hinted at the possibility of a ‘truncated’ IPL.
The owner of an IPL team anonymously revealed to PTI, saying: “Nothing concrete was discussed in today’s meeting (con-call). It was just a follow-up meeting. The situation has not changed in 48 hours, so talking about hosting the IPL is still pre-mature.”
He continued: “We have to wait and watch. We will keep doing these con calls on a weekly basis to take stock of the situation.”
Among the six to seven options that are there in case the situation improves by April 15, one is dividing the teams into two groups with top four reaching the knock-outs.
Also, there are suggestions for increasing the number of doubleheaders in a curtailed time or having matches at three or four centres to limit travel.
The possibility of having the games in close doors also remains open for the BCCI.