"First Priority Is Safety"- Sourav Ganguly On Postponement of IPL 2020

According to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, safety is the first priority as the Board postponed the start of the IPL from March 29 to April 15 due to the recent COVID- 19 pandemic.

Ganguly also stated that further call will be taken post a meeting with the franchises on Saturday. The IPL teams had started their routine practice sessions and foreign players were supposed to join their respective sides.

IPL could be deferred if deadline missed

Earlier, the union health ministry’s guidelines which reads public meetings should be avoided in the wake of COVID-19 was implemented in the domestic circuit as well.

“Let’s stick to the postponement (at the moment). First priority is safety, so we postponed the games,” Ganguly said

India’s tour of South Africa will be rescheduled as well. The sides were supposed to play the first ODI in Dharamshala but the particular match was washed out without the coin toss. And now, the Proteas will go back to their country without taking any further part in the series.

Ganguly was also asked whether there will be more double headers in the tournament, in order to make up for the lost days. Ganguly responded,“We will see what happens. It is too early to answer.”

Meanwhile, Delhi government suspended all sporting activities in the state due to health risks. Delhi is the home venue for the IPL-franchise Delhi Capitals. India have so far recorded more than 80 cases of Corona virus. The death toll globally has crossed the 5,000 mark. 

Furthermore, England’s tour of Sri Lanka has also been called-off due to the epidemic. The two-match Test series was set to start in Galle, next Thursday. It was supposed to be a part of the World Test Championship.