The Coronavirus outbreak has led to sporting events across the globe getting cancelled. Even cricket is no exception to it with the Road Safety World Series getting called off. Two international series, India vs South Africa and Australia vs New Zealand, are set to be played behind the closed doors while <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-england-test-series-postponed-in-the-wake-of-the-coronavirus-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>England&#8217;s tour of Sri Lanka</strong></a> has also been called off.

Moreover, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also denied travelling to Pakistan for the remainder of the tour. Even the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been affected with the remaining matches of the tournament set to be played in empty stadiums and foreign players expected to leave soon. The IPL 2020 has also been <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/bcci-postpones-ipl-2020-from-march-29-to-mid-april-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>suspended until April 15</strong></a> now and the BCCI is expected to take a further call on the tournament later depending on the situation.

As of now, the franchises, reportedly, have agreed to the IPL commencing possible on April 15 with the foreign players available and more doubleheaders. However, the postponement has shortened the window available to organise the tournament. The IPL Governing Council is set to meet on Saturday to discuss the way forward and ahead of that, we bring you the three ways in which they might go ahead with the 2020 season of the marquee event.

Here are the 3 ways in which the BCCI can conduct the IPL 2020:

1. Start IPL on April 15 with more doubleheaders

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-256159" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-7.jpg" alt="BCCI acting president CK Khanna presents IPL 2018 Trophy to Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-256159" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption>

Currently, the feasible option available seems to be starting the IPL on April 15. Earlier with the original schedule, there were fewer doubleheaders and the matches were set to take place in as many as nine cities. However, with a shortened window now, they might have to increase the number of doubleheaders.

Moreover, if the number of the matches aren&#8217;t reduced, then considering the IPL commences on April 15, BCCI will have only 40 days to stage 60 matches. In this case, the board should consider hosting the IPL only in a few cities limiting the travel of the players and the staffs.

But the main problem with this option is of the foreign players&#8217; availability. The Indian Government has suspended the foreign visas until April 15 as of now and somehow, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/a-fan-requests-bcci-to-call-irfan-pathan-back-from-retirement-all-rounder-gives-a-classic-response/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>BCCI</strong></a> will have to find a way out to make the overseas players reach India by the time the tournament starts. The franchises are also of the opinion that the foreign players should be available for the IPL to take place.

2. Organize a mini-IPL with each team playing only 7 matches in the league stage

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-406341" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rohit-Sharma-and-MS-Dhoni.jpg" alt="Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-406341" class="wp-caption-text">Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)</figcaption>

There is no guarantee if the Coronavirus outbreak will be controlled until the second week of April. It might also lead to the BCCI postponing the IPL further shortening the window available even more. In that case, there is an option of staging a mini IPL with each team facing the other only once before the top four sides qualify for the playoffs.

Currently, with the full schedule, 56 league matches are there to be scheduled and four playoffs which won&#8217;t be possible with a short window. If the mini IPL takes place, only 28 league matches will have to take place and four playoffs which means the tournament will comprise of a total 32 matches.

These number of matches can be organised in around three weeks with the doubleheaders also taking place on a few days. This will allow all the foreign players to feature in the whole season and the IPL can be finished by May 24 too.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-357997" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_344178.jpg" alt="IPL" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-357997" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption>

This could be the least popular option among all the three but can be considered if the desperate situation occurs. 8 teams can be divided into two groups with each team playing against each other once before the top two teams qualifying for the playoffs. In this case, only 16 matches will have to take place for the IPL 2020 season to comprise.

Even if the teams in each group play against each other twice, even then only 24 league matches will have to be organised and four playoff matches. The order of the top four teams which qualify for the playoffs could be decided on the basis of their net run-rate.

It will be interesting to see if the BCCI will adopt for any of these options. At the moment, with the shortened window, staging a mini IPL with each team playing against each other only once seems to be the best option.

<p>The Coronavirus outbreak has led to sporting events across the globe getting cancelled. Even cricket is no exception to it with the Road Safety World Series getting called off. Two international series, India vs South Africa and Australia vs New Zealand, are set to be played behind the closed doors while <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-england-test-series-postponed-in-the-wake-of-the-coronavirus-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>England’s tour of Sri Lanka</strong></a> has also been called off.</p>
<p>Moreover, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also denied travelling to Pakistan for the remainder of the tour. Even the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been affected with the remaining matches of the tournament set to be played in empty stadiums and foreign players expected to leave soon. The IPL 2020 has also been <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/bcci-postpones-ipl-2020-from-march-29-to-mid-april-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>suspended until April 15</strong></a> now and the BCCI is expected to take a further call on the tournament later depending on the situation.</p>
<p>As of now, the franchises, reportedly, have agreed to the IPL commencing possible on April 15 with the foreign players available and more doubleheaders. However, the postponement has shortened the window available to organise the tournament. The IPL Governing Council is set to meet on Saturday to discuss the way forward and ahead of that, we bring you the three ways in which they might go ahead with the 2020 season of the marquee event.</p>
<h3>Here are the 3 ways in which the BCCI can conduct the IPL 2020:</h3>
<h3>1. Start IPL on April 15 with more doubleheaders</h3>
<figure id="attachment_256159" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-256159" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-256159" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-7.jpg" alt="BCCI acting president CK Khanna presents IPL 2018 Trophy to Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-256159" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Currently, the feasible option available seems to be starting the IPL on April 15. Earlier with the original schedule, there were fewer doubleheaders and the matches were set to take place in as many as nine cities. However, with a shortened window now, they might have to increase the number of doubleheaders.</p>
<p>Moreover, if the number of the matches aren’t reduced, then considering the IPL commences on April 15, BCCI will have only 40 days to stage 60 matches. In this case, the board should consider hosting the IPL only in a few cities limiting the travel of the players and the staffs.</p>
<p>But the main problem with this option is of the foreign players’ availability. The Indian Government has suspended the foreign visas until April 15 as of now and somehow, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/a-fan-requests-bcci-to-call-irfan-pathan-back-from-retirement-all-rounder-gives-a-classic-response/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>BCCI</strong></a> will have to find a way out to make the overseas players reach India by the time the tournament starts. The franchises are also of the opinion that the foreign players should be available for the IPL to take place.</p>
<h3>2. Organize a mini-IPL with each team playing only 7 matches in the league stage</h3>
<figure id="attachment_406341" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-406341" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-406341" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rohit-Sharma-and-MS-Dhoni.jpg" alt="Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-406341" class="wp-caption-text">Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>There is no guarantee if the Coronavirus outbreak will be controlled until the second week of April. It might also lead to the BCCI postponing the IPL further shortening the window available even more. In that case, there is an option of staging a mini IPL with each team facing the other only once before the top four sides qualify for the playoffs.</p>
<p>Currently, with the full schedule, 56 league matches are there to be scheduled and four playoffs which won’t be possible with a short window. If the mini IPL takes place, only 28 league matches will have to take place and four playoffs which means the tournament will comprise of a total 32 matches.</p>
<p>These number of matches can be organised in around three weeks with the doubleheaders also taking place on a few days. This will allow all the foreign players to feature in the whole season and the IPL can be finished by May 24 too.</p>
<h3>3. Divide 8 teams into 2 groups</h3>
<figure id="attachment_357997" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-357997" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-357997" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_344178.jpg" alt="IPL" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-357997" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>This could be the least popular option among all the three but can be considered if the desperate situation occurs. 8 teams can be divided into two groups with each team playing against each other once before the top two teams qualifying for the playoffs. In this case, only 16 matches will have to take place for the IPL 2020 season to comprise.</p>
<p>Even if the teams in each group play against each other twice, even then only 24 league matches will have to be organised and four playoff matches. The order of the top four teams which qualify for the playoffs could be decided on the basis of their net run-rate.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if the BCCI will adopt for any of these options. At the moment, with the shortened window, staging a mini IPL with each team playing against each other only once seems to be the best option.</p>

<p>The Coronavirus outbreak has led to sporting events across the globe getting cancelled. Even cricket is no exception to it with the Road Safety World Series getting called off. Two international series, India vs South Africa and Australia vs New Zealand, are set to be played behind the closed doors while <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-england-test-series-postponed-in-the-wake-of-the-coronavirus-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>England&#8217;s tour of Sri Lanka</strong></a> has also been called off.</p>
<p>Moreover, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also denied travelling to Pakistan for the remainder of the tour. Even the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been affected with the remaining matches of the tournament set to be played in empty stadiums and foreign players expected to leave soon. The IPL 2020 has also been <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/bcci-postpones-ipl-2020-from-march-29-to-mid-april-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>suspended until April 15</strong></a> now and the BCCI is expected to take a further call on the tournament later depending on the situation.</p>
<p>As of now, the franchises, reportedly, have agreed to the IPL commencing possible on April 15 with the foreign players available and more doubleheaders. However, the postponement has shortened the window available to organise the tournament. The IPL Governing Council is set to meet on Saturday to discuss the way forward and ahead of that, we bring you the three ways in which they might go ahead with the 2020 season of the marquee event.</p>
<h3>Here are the 3 ways in which the BCCI can conduct the IPL 2020:</h3>
<h3>1. Start IPL on April 15 with more doubleheaders</h3>
<figure id="attachment_256159" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-256159" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-256159" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-7.jpg" alt="BCCI acting president CK Khanna presents IPL 2018 Trophy to Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-256159" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Currently, the feasible option available seems to be starting the IPL on April 15. Earlier with the original schedule, there were fewer doubleheaders and the matches were set to take place in as many as nine cities. However, with a shortened window now, they might have to increase the number of doubleheaders.</p>
<p>Moreover, if the number of the matches aren&#8217;t reduced, then considering the IPL commences on April 15, BCCI will have only 40 days to stage 60 matches. In this case, the board should consider hosting the IPL only in a few cities limiting the travel of the players and the staffs.</p>
<p>But the main problem with this option is of the foreign players&#8217; availability. The Indian Government has suspended the foreign visas until April 15 as of now and somehow, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/a-fan-requests-bcci-to-call-irfan-pathan-back-from-retirement-all-rounder-gives-a-classic-response/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>BCCI</strong></a> will have to find a way out to make the overseas players reach India by the time the tournament starts. The franchises are also of the opinion that the foreign players should be available for the IPL to take place.</p>
<h3>2. Organize a mini-IPL with each team playing only 7 matches in the league stage</h3>
<figure id="attachment_406341" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-406341" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-406341" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rohit-Sharma-and-MS-Dhoni.jpg" alt="Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-406341" class="wp-caption-text">Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>There is no guarantee if the Coronavirus outbreak will be controlled until the second week of April. It might also lead to the BCCI postponing the IPL further shortening the window available even more. In that case, there is an option of staging a mini IPL with each team facing the other only once before the top four sides qualify for the playoffs.</p>
<p>Currently, with the full schedule, 56 league matches are there to be scheduled and four playoffs which won&#8217;t be possible with a short window. If the mini IPL takes place, only 28 league matches will have to take place and four playoffs which means the tournament will comprise of a total 32 matches.</p>
<p>These number of matches can be organised in around three weeks with the doubleheaders also taking place on a few days. This will allow all the foreign players to feature in the whole season and the IPL can be finished by May 24 too.</p>
<h3>3. Divide 8 teams into 2 groups</h3>
<figure id="attachment_357997" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-357997" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-357997" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_344178.jpg" alt="IPL" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-357997" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>This could be the least popular option among all the three but can be considered if the desperate situation occurs. 8 teams can be divided into two groups with each team playing against each other once before the top two teams qualifying for the playoffs. In this case, only 16 matches will have to take place for the IPL 2020 season to comprise.</p>
<p>Even if the teams in each group play against each other twice, even then only 24 league matches will have to be organised and four playoff matches. The order of the top four teams which qualify for the playoffs could be decided on the basis of their net run-rate.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if the BCCI will adopt for any of these options. At the moment, with the shortened window, staging a mini IPL with each team playing against each other only once seems to be the best option.</p>

BCCI is going to reassess the situation later.

3 Ways in which BCCI can go ahead with the IPL 2020

The IPL 2020 has also been suspended until April 15 now and the BCCI is expected to take a further call on the tournament later depending