IPL 2020: BCCI Keen On Hosting The Tournament In September-November Window - Reports

Indian cricket fans could finally have news to rejoice as fresh media reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen on getting IPL 2020 underway in the September-November window. IPL 2020 was slated to start from March 29 this year. But with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the BCCI suspended it indefinitely.

However, if the tournament gets cancelled completely, BCCI will have to incur huge losses and now reports in the media suggest that the board is keen on hosting the tournament September 25 to November 1, provided the country is able to lower the rate of coronavirus infections.

Speaking to IANS, sources in the know of developments said that while it is still early days, the BCCI is looking to zoom in on the end-September to November period to organise the cash-rich league to start India’s domestic season in the post-coronavirus era.

BCCI Keen On Getting IPL 2020 Underway Later This Year

“It is still early days as a lot of other things have to fall in place for this to materialise, but yes, the BCCI is looking at a September 25-November 1 window provided the number of cases in the country come down and the government does give a go-ahead. As I said, a lot of things do need to fall in place, but yes, these dates are being talked about and contingency planning is on,” the source said.

BCCI is waiting for a final word from the Indian government. The country is currently observing the fourth phase of lockdown, which ends on May 31. The board might be allowed to conduct a few activities if the restrictions are lifted. There could also be a case that BCCI might be allowed to stage IPL behind the closed doors in the next few months.

Speculations Intensify Over IPL 2020 Future

IPL 2020 was scheduled to start from March 29, but due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCI postponed it until April 15. As the nationwide lockdown extended in India, BCCI suspended IPL 2020 Indefinitely. Now, with the situation worsening, it seems a huge possibility that IPL stands nothing but cancelled this year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now looking at the October-November window for the IPL. But the move can be possible only if the ICC decides to postpone the 2020 T20 World Cup that is to be held in October, this year, according to some sources in the board.

On April 10, latest reports suggested that the BCCI is probing into the July window to conduct the IPL and it could take place behind closed doors. However, all hopes once again vanished as the BCCI has suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 indefinitely in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. With COVID-19 victims toll rising in India, cricket returning to India seems a possibility far from reality.

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