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The world’s richest cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, authorities confirmed Thursday.
Player well-being prioritized by BCCI
The Cricket Board of Control in India (BCCI) said the Twenty20 competition, already delayed from its original start date of March 29, “will only start when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”
“The health and safety of the nation and all those involved in our great sport remains our top priority,” BCCI Secretary Jay Shah added in a statement.
“BCCI will continue to monitor and review the situation regarding a possible start date.”
A team official said AFP On Wednesday, the IPL would be postponed indefinitely, but that “they would find a window at the end of the year to do so.”
The Indian government this week extended a three-week blockade until at least May 3.
Uncertainty about the new IPL start date
Media reports said that BCCI could hope for a tournament in September-October, before the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The pandemic has wreaked havoc at sports tournaments, with the International Olympic Committee and Japan last month making the landmark decision to delay the Olympics by one year.
Expert cricketers, including England’s Kevin Pietersen, had suggested that the dazzling tournament be shortened from its usual eight-week duration and played behind closed doors.
The league, which started in 2008, is a great source of revenue for the BCCI and is estimated to generate more than $ 11 billion a year for the Indian economy.
Sri Lanka Offer
The participation of the best cricket players in the world has attracted a lot of money. Chinese mobile phone maker Vivo had contributed $ 330 million to be the league’s main sponsor for 2018-2022.
Australian rhythm pitcher Pat Cummins was to be the most expensive star abroad this year, with Kolkata Knight Riders in December agreeing on a $ 2.17 million fee for his services.
Major foreign players have been pushing for the IPL to take place, and Australian Steve Smith said he hoped the league would take place “at some point”.
Sri Lanka’s cricket board offered on Thursday to host the lucrative tournament in the island nation, which it says has been least affected by the virus.
“We have the places and the resources to celebrate the IPL in Sri Lanka,” said Sri Lankan Cricket President Shammi Silva. AFP.
Silva, who will make a formal offer to his Indian counterpart, hopes the outbreak can be controlled in Sri Lanka, which is currently under an undefined curfew to combat the spread of the virus.
The cash-rich tournament was held twice outside of India due to its conflicting dates with the parliamentary elections.
South Africa hosted the second edition of IPL in 2009, and the first half of the 2014 season took place in the UAE.
© Agence France-Presse by Faisal KAMAL
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