Kevin Pietersen Names The Tournament Which Should Start Cricket Season
Published - 04 Apr 2020, 11:44 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:05 AM
With the coronavirus pandemic showing absolutely no signs of improvement, the chances of resumption of cricket any time soon is looking enormously bleak. As things stand, cricket events around the world is currently suspended. Every major nation has called off its international and domestic fixtures in the wake of the outbreak.
The cricket fraternity is now desperately waiting for things to improve so that action finally resumes. And former England skipper Kevin Pietersen believes Indian Premier League (IPL) should start the much-awaited cricket season. The legendary batsman insisted that the 13th edition of the league should happen and could be finished in maximum four weeks.
IPL 2020 was scheduled to start from March 29 but due to the spread of the coronavirus, the tournament has been deferred until at least mid-April. As the Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the country, BCCI has provided no further updates regarding the fate of the league.
Several media reports suggest that the IPL could be cancelled this year if things do not improve soon while few reports suggest that the BCCI could hold the tournament later this year. Kevin Pietersen, on his part, believes that IPL should be played and should be conducted at 3 safe venues and behind closed doors amid the spread of the deadly disease. He also said that the players around the world are desperate to play the IPL.
“Let’s say July-August is the earliest, I do truly believe the IPL should happen,” Kevin Pietersen said on Star Sports Cricket Connected before adding: “I do believe it is the kick-start to the cricket season. I think every single player around the world is desperate to play the IPL.
“There could be a way in which to get some money into the franchises, into the economy by having a situation where you use maybe three venues which are completely closed to fans and the players can still go out and play the tournament in three weeks or in four weeks.”
“So it’s a more condensed tournament in three venues, which we know are safe, which we know are secure.
“I don’t think the fans need to be risked in this situation. I think the fans need to understand they can’t watch a live game at the moment and they might not be able to watch a live game for the foreseeable future. [But] what would you guys give right now, to watch Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings right now?,” he added.
