IPL 2020 Should Be Cancelled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic: Indian Government

With the coronavirus pandemic showing very little signs of improvement, the future for Indian Premier League (IPL) is not looking bright at all. The thirteenth edition of the league was scheduled to start on March 29 in Mumbai. But in the wake of the outbreak, the BCCI decided to suspend the league till at least April 15.

As things stand, BCCI has adapted the wait and watch policy as nobody really knows how things would unfold in the coming days. And while only time will tell the fate of IPL 2020, India’s government on Thursday urged that the league be cancelled to help slow the coronavirus pandemic. Indian government’s decision was in response to organisers’ plans of going ahead with the tournament behind closed doors.

A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs briefed the media in New Delhi and urged the sports federations to decide wisely on holding events.

“Think it is for the organisers to decide whether to go ahead with it or not,” Dammu Ravi, additional secretary, MEA and coordinator for COVID-19, said.

“Our advice would be to not do it at this time but if they want to go ahead, it is their decision,” he added.

The BCCI and other stakeholders are desperate for the league to go ahead due to understandable reasons. The stakes are huge. The richest cricket in the league is said to generate more than $11 billion a year to the Indian economy and Chinese mobile-maker Vivo paid $330 million to be the top sponsor for 2018-2022.

Unsurprisingly, the BCCI is ready to comply with every advisory to start the tournament on time.

“We are keen to start the IPL on time even if it means without crowds,” a senior BCCI official told AFP.

“It could be TV-only as it is a medical emergency and we can do nothing about that,” he added.

Several state governments have also made it clear that they won’t be helping BCCI in conducting the games during these tough times. Previously, the Maharashtra state government has already ordered Mumbai Indians, the reigning champions, to delay ticket sales for the gala opening game against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings.

Maharashtra has called on the central government to order all games played without spectators — as some European football leagues are now doing. Karnataka state, the home of Virat Kohli’s Bangalore Royal Challengers, wants the league cancelled altogether, reports said.

“Human life has far more value than the IPL,” said Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope.

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