With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season having been postponed indefinitely owing to the extension of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, one possibility being suggested is to hold the IPL at an alternate venue. The Sri Lanka cricket board is reportedly planning to write to BCCI intimating them of their willingness to host the season.
Responding to Sri Lanka’s proposal a senior Board official on conditions of anonymity told Cricket Age that the board is not in a position to make a decision with almost the world being in a lockdown state.
“The BCCI will not be in a position to say anything when the world is closed,” the top BCCI official said.
He further mentioned that no such offer has been made and also remained skeptical if a meaningful discussion can take place on the subject even if it comes along.
“There is no proposal from SLC yet and obviously no discussion,” the official said when asked what will be the BCCI’s stand when the offer is on table.
There have been two past occasions when the IPL has been shifted out of the country. The UAE had hosted the first two weeks of IPL in 2014 when the Lok Sabha polls were held in India. The 2009 IPL had been moved to South Africa, also due to elections.
IPL 2020 was initially scheduled to start from March 29. Owing to the previously announced 21-day nationwide lockdown, the tournament was earlier postponed till April 15. On Thursday, the IPL Governing Council of the BCCI announced that the season was being suspended till further notice.
