In order to prevent the corona virus spread Indian government imposed 21 day lock down through out the country. The spread of deadly virus seems increasing day by day in a rapid speed. Due to this disaster many scheduled events has been postponed including the cash rich Indian Premier League.
BCCI decides to start the tournament at the end of April or at the beginning of May. BCCI took this decision after having a conference call with the IPL owners. The board would lose around Rs.3869 Cr if the IPL tournament went down. Previously IPL has been postponed to April 15 but due to the 21 day lock down the execution of IPL at that time seems impossible.
In an interaction with IANS, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) President Sourav Ganguly had laid emphasis on things not changing making it difficult for him to take a call on the future of IPL 2020.
Dada offers #EdenGardens to the government for COVID-19 Quarantine if needed 🏥
“Certain things are beyond anybody’s control. Whatever directives the government gives us, we will follow.” – @SGanguly99#KorboLorboJeetbo vs #coronavirus #KKR #Quarantine #Cricket pic.twitter.com/YWyfEqTtrd
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 25, 2020
Ben Stroke’s preparation
If another BCCI source is to be believed, first week of May is expected to be the deadline to start the tournament. Despite no clarity on the start date of IPL 2020, England and Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ben Stokes has started preparing for the cash-rich league.
“At the moment my next competitive cricket is going to be the IPL, because that hasn’t changed yet. So I have to think that I’m going to be playing cricket on April 20.
“I have to get my head around that I am playing, even though in the back of my mind I know I’m probably not. I still have to build up and get myself physically in a position that if it does happen, I’m good to go, because I can’t just take three weeks off and expect everything body-wise to get going again for April 20. It doesn’t work like that,” Stokes was quoted as saying by BBC Radio 5live.
Being asked about the travel advice which overseas cricketers will receive before coming to India, Stokes hinted at making the “sensible choice”.
“I don’t know. There would be a lot of advice thrown around and given to us if it was an option to go, and I would have to make the sensible [choice].
“But as I say, taken everything else aside, I just have to think that I’m playing cricket on April 20 because it potentially might happen, and if it does, I don’t want to be behind,” Stokes added.
