The coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted the lives of people across the globe. It has brought the world to an unprecedented, perhaps war-like standstill that has affected global share markets as well. All the sporting events have come to a halt, which is why sporting organizations, leagues and team owners, have suffered huge losses.
With the fate of IPL 2020 also hanging in uncertainty, the team owners are resorting to WhatsApp groups to give clarity to players about the future of the tournament and answer their queries regarding other issues as many theories are doing the rounds amid the 21-day lockdown in India.
“See, you do realise that for players, it is all about going out onto the field and performing. Critics can talk about the money factor and stuff, but it is very difficult for cricketers to be sitting at home and not being sure when they will be back on the ground and if at all the IPL will happen this year. Numerous theories in the media have also not helped. So, it was decided to create a WhatsApp group so that their queries can be answered without any confusion,” an official of one of the franchises said.
Another franchise official echoed the sentiment and said that some of the youngsters who were to play their first season of IPL this year have time and again been checking the status of the league and creating a group were the perfect solution.
“Rather than listening to people on the outside and getting half-baked information, it is always better that they get the real picture. Till recently we had the youngsters checking if reports that the IPL will not happen this year are true or not. So, it is best if you have a group where you have the management, the coaching staff as well as the players all under one roof,” the official told IANS.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now looking at the October-November window to host the IPL. But this move can only be possible if the ICC decides to postpone the T20 World Cup.
