The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has again postponed the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the lockdown in the nation gets extended till 3rd May. The 13th season of IPL was scheduled to be played from 29th March but was earlier postponed to 15th April.
Currently, BCCI is considering September-October window for the tournament and may take up the call depending on the global situation. The decision to postpone IPL further came after PM Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown because of the increase in the patients infected with COVID-19.
On Wednesday, BCCI informed all the IPL franchises about the postponement. A veteran BCCI official said, “Yes, the BCCI has intimated us that IPL has been postponed for the time being but they are hopeful of finding a window later this year as and when things normalise.”
Sourav Ganguly who is the president of the BCCI had earlier ruled out the chances of holding the tournament later this year.
The coronavirus outbreak has led to a postponement or suspension of many sporting events. The Olympics in Tokyo, which were initially expected to take place from July of this year, got postponed by a year.
Wimbledon was canceled, and the French Open was delayed until later in the year. Several other cricket series were also called off or postponed, including South Africa’s tour of India for three One-day Internationals (ODIs).
The coronavirus outbreak has also put doubt on the T20 World Cup scheduled to begin in Australia in October.
In India the novel coronavirus has infected more than 11,000 people, causing 377 deaths.
The BCCI has donated Rs 51 crore to the Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund and to the Prime Minister Relief Fund to help tackle the country’s coronavirus outbreak.