Sourav Ganguly Reveals Domestic Cricket Will Not Start Until It Is Safe To Travel Within The Country

Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI], has said that the Indian domestic season will start only after it is deemed safe for cricketers to travel within the country.

The Indian domestic season traditionally starts in late August but given the uncertainty thanks to Covid-19, state associations want clarity on what the calendar for the 2020-21 season looks like. Rahul Johri, BCCI chief executive, has recently given indications that the domestic calendar might go under a revamp.

The season normally starts the 50-over Vijay-Hazare Trophy followed by Duleep Trophy, Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and Irani Trophy. Last year, Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament was staged ahead of the Ranji Trophy in order to give chances to players to showcase their potential before the IPL auctions. Irani Trophy, meanwhile, was cancelled due to the onset of lockdown Phase-01.

“It is necessary, but it will happen only after coronavirus. When it is safe, only then, especially junior cricket.” Sourav Ganguly told Sports Tak.

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‘Till the time, it is not safe, it will not happen’- Sourav Ganguly

The former Indian captain reasoned that with teams required to travel from one place to another in such a huge place like India, domestic cricket isn’t worth starting unlike situation gets restored to normalcy.

“We don’t want to expose young players. Our country is so large and our domestic cricket is so robust that everyone has to travel and play. So till the time, it is not safe, it will not happen,” said Sourav Ganguly.

On the same show, Sourav Ganguly also declared that Asia Cup 2020 has been cancelled.

“Asia Cup cancel ho chuka hai, jo September me tha (Asia Cup, which was to be held in September, has been cancelled),” he revealed.

Asia Cup T20 was supposed to take place in the in Septemeber and while BCB did not confirm the development, PCB chief said that the tournament has indeed been cancelled by the ACC due to Covid-19.

“The Asian Cricket Council is looking at organising it next year. It is too dangerous to host it this year We had swapped the event with Sri Lanka this year because it is one of the least affected (in South Asia) from the virus,” Ehsan Mani told PTI.

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