The 2020 Indian Premier League, popularly known as IPL 13 and officially known as Vivo IPL, was planned to be the thirteenth season of the IPL, a professional Twenty20 cricket league established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2007.
It was scheduled to embark upon on 29 March 2020. Nevertheless, it was suspended till April 15, due to the terror of Coronavirus pandemic.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah further dropped a word regarding IPL 2020, saying, “Due to the evolving global heath concerns regarding COVID-19 and lockdown measures implemented by the Government of India to contain the spread of the pandemic, the IPL Governing Council of the BCCI has decided that the IPL 2020 Season will be suspended till further notice.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced on 12 March that IPL 2020 cricket match can be held in the state only if they are played in empty stadiums. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi declared that no IPL match will be held in Delhi.
A BCCI official told CNBC TV18 on 9th April that the board was considering hosting the tournament in July or during the winter, possibly behind closed doors.
On 13 March, the BCCI suspended the tournament till April 15, in view of the ongoing global threat. The decision regarding the postponement was reached by the Governing Council after a meeting with the owners of all eight franchise teams.
The league was supposed to start with the opening match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, the finalists of the previous IPL cricket match, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, after a surge of coronavirus positive cases in India, the situation was announced unfit for any sporting activity, amidst a 40-day lockdown, the BCCI didn’t issue any fresh date.
“The health and safety of the nation and everyone involved in our great sport remains our top priority and as such, the BCCI along with the franchise owners, broadcaster, sponsors and all the stakeholders acknowledges that the IPL 2020 season will only commence when it is safe and appropriate to do so,” Shah further stated.
The players auction for IPL 2020 cricket was held on 19 December 2019 in Kolkata. Pat Cummins was the most expensive player, purchased by the Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs.15.5 crore ( US $2.2 million). The most expensive Indian player sold was Piyush Chawla for Rs.6.75 crore (US $950,000) to Chennai Super Kings.
On 14 April 2020, Narendra Modi said that the lockdown in India would last until at least 3 May 2020, the tournament got postponed further. The following day, the BCCI suspended the tournament indefinitely due to the pandemic.
“BCCI will continue to monitor and review the situation regarding a potential start date in close partnership with all of its stakeholders and will continue to take guidance from the Government of India, State Governments and other State Regulatory bodies,” Shah added.
The BCCI may/may not consider a September-October window and make a call depending on the global situation.
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