'Our advice would be to not do IPL 2020 at this time' - Ministry of External Affairs amid Coronavirus threat

The coronavirus threat has become a big roadblock in various sporting events taking place in front of spectators. Governments of various countries have issued directives against mass public gathering at one place, including stadiums. This has led to La Liga and Champions League matches being played in empty stadiums and event cricket has been impacted due to this outbreak.

The Road Safety World Series in India has been cancelled, while the two remaining ODIs between India and South Africa, to be played in Lucknow and Kolkata will now be held in empty stadiums, after ticket sales were cancelled after Indian government issued a warning about the pandemic. Now a big threat of cancellation looms on the richest T20 league of the world, the Indian Premier League season 13.

‘Human life has far more value than the IPL’: Maharashtra Health Minister

Maharashtra state’s Vikas Agaadi Government led by Shiv Sena has already cancelled the ticket sales for the IPL 2020 season opener between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings on March 29. The government’s decision on stopping foreigners from coming to India till 15 April has a direct impact on foreign players coming to play for the various franchises in the Indian T20 league.

A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs briefed the media in New Delhi and urged the sports federations to decide wisely on holding events.  “Think it is for the organizers to decide whether to go ahead with it or not. Our advice would be to not do it at this time but if they want to go ahead, it is their decision,” Dammu Ravi, additional secretary, MEA and coordinator for COVID-19, was quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

Some activist groups have launched cases at the Supreme Court and courts in Chennai and Mumbai to halt the league. Karnataka state has also urged for cancellation of the IPL altogether after witnessing the outbreak of the life-threatening Coronavirus,

However, things are not that easy when it comes to cancelling a T20 league with so much money riding on it. The 60-game league is said to generate more than $11 billion a year to the Indian economy and Chinese mobile-maker Vivo paid $330 million to be the top sponsor for 2018-2022.

However, the BCCI is keen on hosting the tournament as per schedule, if it means playing in empty stadiums. “We are keen to start the IPL on time even if it means without crowds. It could be TV-only as it is a medical emergency and we can do nothing about that,” a senior BCCI official said on condition of anonymity.