'Cancel IPL 2020' - Karnataka Government writes a letter to central government; not ready to host matches in Bengaluru

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is less than three weeks away from getting underway. The Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are scheduled to lock horns in the opening game of the season on March 29. But the coronavirus scare is likely to hamper the proceedings now even as the Karnataka Government has denied hosting the IPL matches in Bengaluru.

On Monday, a Bengaluru resident with a travel history to the USA was tested positive for novel coronavirus according to Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar. Reportedly, the same resident, who has identified as a techie, came in contact with 2,666 people since his return from the US. While the person has been isolated at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) in Bengaluru, all primary schools in Bengaluru’s areas with IT companies have been shut until further notice.

The concerns have been previously raised over staging the IPL even as the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly recently confirmed that the tournament will go ahead as planned. At the same time, the BCCI sources also stated that they are monitoring the situation.

No IPL matches in Bengaluru?

Now if the reports in the local news channel Digvijay 24/7 are to be believed, the Karnataka Government has written a letter to the central government requesting for the IPL to postpone or suspend this year amid coronavirus threat. The report further stated that the Karnataka Government has also denied hosting the IPL matches.

Bengaluru is home to the Virat Kohli-led franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as the Chinnaswamy Stadium hosts all their matches. Earlier, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had raised concerns over the coronavirus outbreak and felt that the IPL can be organised later.

“There is always a possible danger of spread (of contagious diseases) when large numbers of people gather in one place… Such (IPL) events can always be organised later,” Tope had earlier said. With Karnataka Government also denying to host the matches now, it remains to be seen what stance will BCCI stake. As of now, things are not looking good for the upcoming season of the IPL to go ahead.