MUMBAI: If a report from a leading Indian media network published Wednesday proves true, it would likely be the best possible option in the given circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering organising the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the July-September window.
Notably, the cash-rich league has already been postponed till 15 April but given the situation of the coronavirus pandemic, the chances of the tournament commencing on that date look increasingly bleak as the confirmed cases in India are currently in their upswing phase.
A report carried by Times of India indicate’s that the BCCI is now looking for a space in July-September 2020 window as a more realistic option.
The July-September window could also work in the BCCI’s favour as it is not a cricketing action-packed period. Although England are set to host Pakistan for a full series and there is the Asia Cup between these months as well apart from India’s tour of Sri Lanka, TOI reports.
The only catch in this scenario, as SportzPower sees it, is that fully fledged 60-match IPL seems logistically difficult to pull off so the better option remains a high octane condensed 2020 edition of world cricket’s biggest annual Twenty20 event.
However, what needs highlighting, as the TOI report noted, is that the 2009 edition of the IPL, which was played in South Africa, happened inside 37 days and a similar window could be just about enough for BCCI to go ahead with the league in India or abroad.
“The 2009 IPL – in South Africa – was played inside 37 days. That’s five weeks and two days. If that kind of a window is made available, the IPL can be held partly in India and partly overseas, or the entire tournament can be shifted, depending on how the Covid-19 situation is globally,” TOI quoted a BCCI official as arguing.
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