BCCI to shut down office after COVID-19 outbreak

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to shut down its office from Tuesday, March 17 amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has been creating a lot of panic and tensions across the globe. A number of sporting tournaments, including cricket, have been postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. And now the world’s richest cricket board has to face its wrath and venom.

As far as BCCI operations are concerns, the employees have been told to work from home, reported by the Times of India (TOI). Though the coronavirus is yet to spit venom with full effect in India, precautionary measures surrounding it have been circulated. The importance of staying healthy and keeping hands clean with sanitizers have been iterated on a pretty consistent basis.

Coronavirus affecting Indian cricket

Apart from BCCI resorting to working from home, Indian cricket has been affected due to the virus to some extent. Earlier, the BCCI cancelled the two ODIs in Lucknow and Kolkata against South Africa after the opening match in Dharamshala got abandoned without a ball being bowled. The final day of the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy between Bengal and Saurashtra was also played in front of empty stands.

The upcoming Irani Trophy has also been put to hold for the time being. The BCCI has also postponed the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) amidst the times of turbulence. The start of the T20 tournament has been postponed from March 29 to April 15. Even if the cash-rich and prestigious IPL gets underway, the matches could well take place behind closed doors.

The government of India has also cancelled the visas of outsiders until April 15. From Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), to Ness Wadia, the co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), a number of franchise personnel have voiced their opinion on the deadly virus.

Recently, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) called off their practice sessions and sent their players back home. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has also postponed their training camp, previously scheduled to start on March 21. For the time being, there are clouds over hosting the T20 league.