#CoronavirusImpact: BCCI suspends IPL 2020 till April 15
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the BCCI has decided to suspend the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season till April 15. Further, it could be played behind closed doors. According to a report in India Today, the team owners had suggested the IPL can be pushed back by a couple of weeks amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has been declared a pandemic by WHO.
IPL has become the latest victim of coronavirus
The IPL was expected to start on March 29, however, the coronavirus outbreak has brought an uncertainty regarding the competition. It was first stated that foreign players will only be available from April 15. On Thursday, India's Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said that fans are likely not to be allowed at the grounds.
Decision to postpone IPL was taken by BCCI
According to ESPN, the decision to postpone the IPL was taken by the BCCI top brass, led by its president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, besides the top management of the IPL. This was in the wake of the advice given by the Indian Government. The postponement of the tournament means that there are likely to be more double-headers than earlier planned.
'We have decided to suspend IPL 2020 till April 15'
The BCCI said, "We have decided to suspend IPL 2020 till April 15, as a precautionary measure against the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation."
No IPL matches to be held in Delhi: Manish Sisodia
Earlier on Friday, the Delhi Government had announced that no matches of the 2020 edition will take place in the city due to this pandemic. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed, "We have decided to ban any sports activity where people will gather in huge numbers like IPL. Social distancing is important to curb the breakout of coronavirus."
How has the coronavirus impacted other tournaments?
The coronavirus outbreak in Italy has seen all the major tournaments in the nation get suspended until April 3. No professional tennis will be played anywhere until April 20. In football, La Liga has been suspended and the Premier League too could face the same fate. Several Champions League and Europa matches have been postponed. In Formula 1, the Australian Grand Prix got cancelled.
