IPL 2020: Franchise Owners To Meet Only After 21-Day Lockdown Ends

Published - 02 Apr 2020, 07:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:05 AM

MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma with the IPL trophy (Credits: Twitter)

The fate of IPL 2020 hangs in balance as the country is under a mandatory 21-day lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The thirteenth edition of the league was scheduled to start on March 29. But around a fortnight ago, the BCCI suspended the league till April 15 in the wake of the outbreak.

Since that decision, nothing concrete has been said by the BCCI regarding this year’s IPL. And it looks like, it will take some more time before a final or the next decision on the fate of the league is taken. According to report, the IPL franchises have decided that they will have the next meeting only after the Central Government comes up with a fresh advisory on April 14.

A team official said it doesn’t make any sense to have meetings when the future is uncertain, adding that there will be a clarity once the current lockdown ends and a fresh advisory is issued.

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“We last met the BCCI officials at the HQ and after that the next meeting was called off as it was clear that a clarity from the government on the situation with regards to the pandemic is a must. Now that our 21-day lockdown comes to an end on April 14, we will get clarity on how things stand and if we will need any further steps in that direction to fight COVID-19. Once that clarity is got, we can all sit down and chalk out the road ahead. The owners will meet only after the fresh advisory comes, the official was quoted as saying by the IANS.

IPL, IPL 2020, Closed Doors, Government — IPL Trophy. Photo by: Deepak Malik /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

With no clarity as of now, a lot of reports regarding how the IPL could be held this year. One of the reports suggest that this year’s tournament could be held without the overseas players. However, an official of a franchise said just like one franchise feels that having an IPL without foreigners is an option, there are others who want foreigners.

“Why do you think the October-November window is being looked at? It is because we want a full IPL with the foreign stars. Even if the international border lockdown stays for six months, the foreign players would be free to come down by then. Yes, every franchise is free to voice their opinion, but let me tell you that would be the last option as a lot of the grandeur that comes with the IPL will then be lost,” the official said.