BCCI has finally postponed the start of the IPL that was scheduled to start on March 29. The tournament will now start on April 15. The news has come in just hours after the Delhi state government had ruled out the permissions to hold IPL matches in Delhi.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation”, the BCCI said in its press release.
The postponed date for the start of the IPL is critical as the government’s orders to suspend visa will end on April 15. The BCCI has expressed the concerns and sensitivity about all its stakeholders, as well the issue of public health and reiterated that it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that all participants of the IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience.
Earlier, reports had surfaced that the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was to meet franchises before an expected meeting of the IPL governing council on March 14.
The postponement of the tournament was in thick of things since the time Maharashtra’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope had said that the state government was in discussion with the BCCI to postpone the annual cricket tournament that features cricketing stars from across the world or hold it behind the closed doors.
Confirming that it would adhere to the regulations and recommendations put forward by the government of India, the BCCI has said that it will work closely with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as other central and state Government departments to successfully hold the IPL, its most lucrative tournament.