Reports: IPL 2020 likely to be further delayed amid Coronavirus threat; BCCI to take a final call by end of March

The WHO-recognized pandemic that is the coronavirus has already claimed more than 14,000 lives globally, with the cases across the world exceeding 325,000. More than 100 countries have seen the virus proliferate with Europe currently being the epicentre. In India alone, the situation is escalating at an alarming rate with 30 fresh cases– from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar– being reported in the country, taking the overall tally to 427 on Monday morning.

The death tally has risen to seven and most parts of the country have been put under complete lockdown with passenger trains and inter-state buses suspended till March 31. In such a situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] are mulling over further postponing the tournament beyond April 15 or even cancel the event altogether if the outbreak of COVID-19 goes out of hand in the country.

According to a report published in India Today, the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] is also mulling to stage a curtailed 13th edition of the Indian Premier League at the end of this year. A final decision on the same is likely to be taken by the end of March.

A final decision on IPL is set to be taken in the upcoming days

Earlier, it was reported that the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI will be holding a meeting with the owners of each of the eight franchises via video teleconference on March 24 to take a final call on this years’ edition.

“BCCI and IPL franchise to have a conference call on coming Tuesday to discuss the process and further way of IPL 2020. BCCI office has closed so no meeting can be held there similarly no meeting can be held in the hotel so they have opted conference call,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by India Today.

Earlier, the 13th edition of the cash-rich league was scheduled to take place from March 29th with defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. But, with the Indian government putting a restriction on the issuance of visas for foreign Internationals, the tournament was postponed till April 15, with President Sourav Ganguly revealing that the final decision will be taken following constant monitoring of the situation.