Overseas players IPL participation in doubt as Indian government cancels all visitor visas amid Coronavirus threat

The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus has sent alarm bells ringing around the world, with governments issuing travel advisories to its citizens from refraining to travel to countries affected by the virus. The virus that started the flu in the Wuhan city of China last year has claimed more than 4,000 deaths all over the world.

Coronavirus has proliferated in more than eighty countries which also includes India. More than 60 positive cases have been reported across the length and breadth of the country, and with the Union Ministry of Health canceling visas of foreigner till April 15th, 2020, question marks have galore around the viability of foreign International cricketers traveling to the country for the 13th edition of the cash-rich league IPL.

“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International organizations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure,” the statement from the government said.

However, the board has said that it is still not clear whether the visas of foreign cricketers are canceled or not. One of the officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has now asked everyone to give them two more days before they reveal the concrete details.

“Please give us two days. It’s not possible to give you concrete details at the moment,” a senior official of the BCCI said as qu0ted by Scroll.in

Holding games in empty stadiums seems the only feasible option for the BCCI 

The IPL governing council is set to meet on March 14 where a decision on the option to hold the cash-rich league in empty stadiums could be taken. The pressure on the authorities has increased manifold after the Legends T20 game [Road Safety World Series] between Indian Legends and West Indies Legends in Pune was canceled.

Earlier the reports had emerged that Maharashtra government might not allow IPL games in the state, leaving the BCCI and governing council with the only feasible option of staging games inside empty stadiums.

By doing that, the broadcasters will be saved from losing out on advertisement money since all the games are already insured. The PIL is set to be heard in Madras High Court on Thursday.