IPL 2020 likely to happen in Sri Lanka or UAE depending on the situation: BCCI official

The situation across the country has been quite stern due to a significant rise in COVID-19 cases. India has witnessed over 6 lakh positive cases so far and the count in increasing with each passing day. Apart from human existence, the pandemic has also put the cricket scenario at a halt.

The much-awaited IPL 2020 was also left in doldrums due to the COVID-19 debacle. The BCCI was left with no option but to indefinitely postpone the tournament due to coronavirus transmission across the nation.

The BCCI is hopeful to stage the tournament in the latter phase of the year. But if the COVID-19 scenario across the country doesn’t subside, the board will have no choice but to shift the tournament to a different country.

A BCCI official in the know of developments revealed that the coronavirus pandemic might force the BCCI to shift the cash-rich league to either UAE or Sri Lanka. There hasn’t been any final announcement yet as the BCCI is waiting for an official decision on the fate of the T20 World Cup in Australia. The BCCI is planning to host the IPL in the T20 World Cup’s window.

In all probability, IPL 2020 is going outside: BCCI official

“We are yet to decide on the venue but in all probability, it is going outside this year. The condition in India doesn’t look suited to have so many teams come in at one or two venues and then create an atmosphere which will be safe for the players as well as the general public even though the games may be played behind closed doors.

“The race is between UAE and Sri Lanka and we will need to decide on where we host the league depending on the situation there with regards to the coronavirus pandemic. Logistics also need to be looked into, so we will decide soon,” the official said as quoted by Cricket Next.

The tournament was initially planned to be hosted in the country. However, a constant rise in the positive cases has compelled the BCCI to start looking out for other countries as venues. Earlier, reports had suggested that the decision-makers in the BCCI were divided in 3:2 ratio with regards to deciding on the venue of the IPL.

“See, it is a case of the decision-makers being divided 3-2 if that is how you wish to understand the current scenario. There are a couple of voices who feel that having the tournament should be the priority and if that means taking it out of the country, so be it,” an official had revealed.