Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular T20 leagues around the globe. Amid coronavirus threat, IPL 2020 has already been suspended by BCCI to take place during mid-April.
However, while it is possible that if IPL 2020 is staged in April, it is likely to be held inside closed doors with empty stadiums. As a result, reports also claim that the BCCI might defer this year’s edition to take place during July-September this year.
While there’s no doubt that IPL 2020 will be a truncated season with more double-headers match days, the BCCI might attempt to host the season during the least busy international calendar period during July and September.
Most of the international teams, including India, play the least amount of cricket in this period.
As per the ICC’s Future Tour Programme in July, Australia is scheduled to tour England for a limited-overs series including three T20Is and three ODIs beginning from July 3. In the same week, West Indies will host New Zealand in a similar fixture of encounter, before they host South Africa for three Tests and five T20Is.
Meanwhile, England will host the first edition of ‘The Hundred’, which will have players featuring from countries like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and others.
This tournament will stretch for nearly 30 days from July 17 to August 15. Though a number of international series will be affected, BCCI is considering hosting a crisp tournament with a shortened period.
For India, the Virat Kohli-led side will take part in the Asia Cup in September. Though the schedule is still not out, the tournament will be held in UAE for the second time in a row.
“The 2009 IPL – in South Africa – was played inside 37 days. That’s five weeks and two days. If that kind of a window is made available, the IPL 2020 can be held partly in India and partly overseas, or the entire tournament can be shifted, depending on how the Covid-19 situation is global,” the source said as quoted by TOI.
While it still remains to be seen if BCCI plans to defer the tournament towards the second half of this year, or will it be successful in staging the prestigious T20 tournament during the Indian summer.
