Everest Premier League Postponed Due To Coronavirus Threat

The dangerous coronavirus started to make its impact on the game of cricket, as Everest Premier League (EPL) in Nepal gets postponed. The star cricketer Chris Gayle also named in one of the teams but unfortunately, the league has been deferred with coronavirus threatening the country.

The 40-year-old Gayle was set to be among a host of other stars booked for the tournament. The list also included retired West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith. Gayle was slated to represent the Pokhara Rhinos with Smith drafted by the Bhairahawa Gladiators.

The tournament, which was slated to be held from March 14-28 at TU Cricket Ground, in Nepal, became just the latest in several sporting events to disrupted by the global pandemic.

The decision comes on the heels of the National Sports Council (NSC)’s decision to halt all the sports-related activities because of the fast-spreading coronavirus.

We are naturally all sad: Everest Premier League Founder

The organizer said on Thursday that the event has been suspended following the Nepal government’s request to refrain from organizing a mass gathering to avoid possible transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to a press release issued by the EPL organizing body, the event will be re-scheduled at the closest possible time once the situation is favourable.

“We are naturally all sad at today’s announcement… but simply we have to put the health and well-being of all Nepalis and our overseas players before everything else.” EPL founder and Managing Director Aamir Akhtar said in a statement.

Despite Nepal being comparatively lightly affected by the virus thus far, with only a single confirmed case, Nepali authorities are taking proactive measures to contain the disease’s spread.

A number of events aimed at promoting tourism as part of the government’s “Visit Nepal Year-2020” campaign were cancelled last week.