Reports: IPL 2020 could be cancelled if April 20 deadline missed

The coronavirus outbreak could take more toll on the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year as the thirteenth edition of the league could be reportedly called off altogether if the situation does not improve in the coming days. In the wake of the pandemic, the BCCI, on Friday, decided to suspend the league till April 15 as a precautionary measure.

The pandemic has affected sporting events all across the globe. Almost all the big sporting events have been called off to make sure that coronavirus does not spread. And cricket has started following suit too by calling off or postponing several series and tournaments. The IPL is definitely the most high profile tournament that has been postponed so far.

The IPL was scheduled to start on March 29 in Mumbai. But with the pandemic showing absolutely no signs of improvement at the moment, the Indian cricket board decided to postpone the start of the tournament till the 15th of next month. A BCCI official has now revealed that the league could be deferred to next year if the tournament does not start by April 20.

“If at all the IPL starts, it would be around April 20 but the decision will be made around April 10. If the tournament doesn’t start by April 20, it will have to be deferred till the next year,” the official told Sportstar.

According to the official, the “six-week window from April 21 till May 31” is suffice to host 60 matches with “multiple double-headers”. But the decision will depend on the “extent of the virus infection by first week of April”.

Effects of Coronavirus

Almost all the big series or tournaments which were going on or were set to start in a few days have been called off or postponed. On Friday, the BCCI called-off the ODI series between India and South Africa after initially announcing that it would be played behind closed doors. On the same day, England also called off their Test series in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Cricket Board has also cut short the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). As a result, the PSL will now end on March 18 instead of March 23. On Saturday, Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket postponed the ongoing ODI series as well as the upcoming T20I series.