Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is ready to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 after the 13th season of the cash-rich tournament was suspended indefinitely by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
With health concerns and lockdown measures in mind, the IPL Governing Council decided to suspend the 2020 edition until further notice, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
“The health and safety of the nation and everyone involved in our great sport remain our top priority,” Shah said.
“BCCI along with the franchise owners, broadcaster, sponsors and all the stakeholders acknowledge that the IPL 2020 season will only commence when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
“BCCI will continue to monitor and review the situation regarding a potential start date in close partnership with all of its stakeholders,” Shah added.
Sri Lanka offers to host suspended IPL
SLC President Shammi Silva, while speaking to Lankadeepa Newspaper, said that India is likely to look into Sri Lanka’s proposal if the outbreak of coronavirus subsides in the neighbouring country.
The BCCI and stakeholders are anticipated to incur a massive loss if the tournament eventually gets called off. Hence, it will be beneficial for them to schedule the tournament in another country. Moreover, IPL 2020 will bring more cashflow in Sri Lanka if the eight-team competition is played in the Island nation.
“If IPL is called off, Indian Cricket board and IPL stakeholders will have to bear a loss of more than USD 500 Million. So, it will be beneficial for them to conduct the league in another country as they did in 2009 in South Africa,” said Silva.
“If we get the go-ahead from them to this proposal, we are ready to provide all the facilities necessary under the supervision of Sri Lankan health authorities,” he added.
