No proposal from Sri Lanka Cricket to host IPL 2020, states BCCI official

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that there hasn’t been any proposal from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to host the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Earlier on Thursday, April 16, SLC president Shammi Silva said that the country is ready to play hosts to the T20 tournament. In Sri Lanka, the scenario surrounding the coronavirus pandemic isn’t as worse as India.

In Lanka, 200 cases have been reported thus far with India’s tally exceeding 13,000. In India, the death tolls have gone above the 400-mark. A BCCI official has confirmed that the board hasn’t had any discussions with SLC regarding the upcoming IPL season.

“The BCCI will not be in a position to say anything when the world is closed,” a senior board official was quoted as saying on conditions of anonymity. “There is no proposal from SLC yet and obviously no discussion.” At the present point in time, most part of the world are in a lockdown and international flights also stand cancelled due to the ungodly virus.

Sri Lanka could host the IPL on three stadiums, Galle, Kandy and Colombo. It’s also an opportunity for the SLC to gain financial stability, more than what a bilateral series could fetch.

IPL postponed indefinitely

Previously, it was learned that the BCCI has deferred the IPL indefinitely. The world’s richest cricket board is now looking for a window and would be more than happy to host the tournament in either of two slots between September-October and October-November.

In May 2020, Shashank Manohar, the chairman of the International Cricket Council will be demitting office. A BCCI veteran, who was a part of the teams when IPL was hosted in South Africa in 2009 and partly in the UAE in 2014, feels that the situation can be different after Manohar steps down.

“Sri Lanka has been BCCI’s ally at the ICC and their proposal is understandable. But what about once he (Manohar) steps down next month. You could see new equations forming and there could be multiple options on table, not just Sri Lanka,” the veteran said.

The IPL was earlier scheduled to get underway on March 29, but was later postponed to April 15. However, with the lockdown getting extended to May 3, clouds have been cast over the future of the popular T20 league.