Whole itinerary should be changed to fit in the IPL: Mohammad Azharuddin

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was supposed to be in its second week by now. It was scheduled to commence on March 29 but was deferred until April 15 due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The tournament is expected to be postponed further with the lockdown across the country likely to be extended until April 30. There is no idea whether the cash-rich league will happen at all this year.

The BCCI hasn’t commented on the matter yet with the President Sourav Ganguly also stating that they are only monitoring things as of now. Meanwhile, the whole international calendar is also disturbed due to the pandemic with most of the bilateral series already postponed and the upcoming tours in the near future also likely to be affected.

Various speculations are being made over the IPL taking place this year with some suggesting even the short window in September-October will be enough. However, the former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin feels that the entire itinerary will have to be changed in order to slot in the IPL now after life gets back to normal.

I am expecting a complete overhaul of the FTP, says Azhar

“I think if they have to slot IPL, the whole itinerary needs to be changed. That’s one option or else stick to the current itinerary with whatever gone being gone. But that means huge losses for all the stakeholders and is not practical. Therefore, I am expecting a complete overhaul of the FTP, if we have to fit in the IPL. I feel all the boards will agree as everybody is getting affected. But obviously the BCCI gets affected more,” he was quoted as saying by India Today.

With a lot of money involved and a golden opportunity to make it to the national side for the players which IPL presents, Azhar reckons that not even the foreign players will go against the T20 league happening. The likes of Jos Buttler and Pat Cummins have already expressed their desire to play in the IPL at some stage this year.

“No one will say no to IPL. Not even the foreign players. So many people thrive on IPL. For a lot of our domestic guys, who are not India regulars, let’s accept they look forward to the IPL,” the 57-year-old added. Having said that, Mohammad Azharuddin backed the T20 World Cup, to be played in Australia, to go ahead as scheduled in October.

“I don’t think World T20’s slot will be gone. It’s third week of October and if things are okay by then, I would believe World T20 will happen. This is purely my personal opinion as you can’t tinker with a World Cup. But obviously IPL will get accommodated in somewhere,” he concluded.