'It is better to be safe than sorry' - Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia calls for cancellation of IPL

A year ago if the news of the Indian Premier League getting postponed or cancelled would have surfaced on the internet, it would been an issue of concern for the investors of the league. But, amidst the chaos of the spread of Coronavirus, this far from imagination thought has become a reality.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Friday that it would suspend the IPL 2020 until April 15. The 13th edition of the richest league in the world was supposed to start on March 29 in Mumbai. For now, the news suggests that the league could be started after April 15, but there is no certainty. The IPL 2020 could be cancelled this year if the Government doesn’t allow international visas for the overseas players.

‘Cancel IPL if required’: Kings XI Punjab’s co-owner Ness Wadia

King XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia on Friday spoke to the officials of BCCI at length about the decision of postponing the league for now. It was stated that Wadia, in fact, had chat with the board’s President Sourav Ganguly. “No human life is worth sacrificing for Indian Premier League (IPL) which should not take if the situation doesn’t improve in two-three weeks”, Wadia said in an interview after the meetings with the bosses at the BCCI office.

“There can be no compromise for even one human life. If we cancel the IPL and end up saving one life, it will be worth it. That is my personal opinion. It is better to be safe than sorry,” the business further said. Wadia has been the co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab from the beginning of the league in 2008. Even though the Mohali- based Franchise hasn’t won a single edition, they had made it to the final in 2014.

If the IPL gets cancelled then it would be a huge financial loss for all the franchise and their owners. Even BCCI would have to go through losses if they are not able to host the marquee T20 league.

“The first benchmark is April 15. If the situation improves after two-three weeks, it could be reconsidered, if not then IPL should definitely not happen”, Wadia said. The stand of the KXIP co-owner shows how much vary the board and the citizens behind the IPL are about the situation.