IPL can always be organised later, says Maharashtra's Health Minister amid Coronavirus outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak is threatening to affect the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The thirteenth edition of the league starts on March 29 with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings in a bumper tournament-opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

As of now, the IPL looks set to start on the scheduled time. Earlier this week, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had stated that the league would take place as scheduled albeit with some precautionary measures. “It’s on…and BCCI will take all protection (against coronavirus),” he had said. So far, no cricket fixture has been affected by the deadly outbreak.

Recently, Cricket South Africa confirmed that they would be touring India for the three-match ODI series later this month. The series gets underway on March 12 in Dharamsala. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is also going on without any issue while England have also landed in Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series.

‘Outbreak could impact IPL’: Maharashtra’s Health Minister

Just days before the scheduled start of the IPL, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has commented on the spread of the contagious virus and its impact on the T20 league. Tope has said that IPL can be held on a later date in view of the spread of the novel coronavirus around the country. In the last one week or so, a number of cases have emerged from different parts of the country.

“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 told mediapersons as quoted by Hindustan Times.

He also said that discussions are currently on in official circles whether to postpone the IPL, and a decision would be taken and announced shortly. The way things have panned out in other parts of the world, it would not be surprising if the IPL does get affected. A number of football games in Italy have been postponed in the wake of the outbreak. There are also question marks over the summer Olympics in Japan later this year.