Start of IPL deferred to 15th April
The global outbreak of COVID-19(Novel coronavirus) has claimed another victim, with the 2020 edition of the IPL being pushed back to April 15. Following the advice given by the Indian government, the BCCI top brasses have decided to delay the start of the tournament. The BCCI on Friday morning communicated its decision to all the eight franchises. The owners are expected to be further debriefed on Saturday during the Governing Council meeting on this matter.
The decision was announced through a media release on Friday afternoon, which read "The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience”. The statement further read "The BCCI will work closely with the Government of India along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all other relevant Central and State Government departments in this regard.”
Earlier, in the wake of the World Health Organisation(WHO) declaring the COVID-19(novel coronavirus) epidemic a pandemic, the Indian government had imposed severe travel restrictions on people traveling in and out of the country. The last two games of ongoing India vs South Africa ODI series will also be played behind closed doors, owing to the global pandemic.
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