 "IPL 2019 final. Photo: PTI")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday suspended the 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) "till further notice" in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more than 400 lives and affected over 12,000 in the country.
"Due to the evolving global health 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," said BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement.
The IPL was set to start on March 29 and end on May 24, but it was first postponed till April 15 after a surge of coronavirus positive cases in India. However, with situation not being conducive for any sporting activity and the country in the midst of 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.
While the BCCI is non committal on when cricket could resume in the country, Shah maintained that India's richest sporting body is monitoring the situation and will seek guidance from the government as well as states.
"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.
When IPL 2020 may now be held
The only window for an IPL in the current year would be between September and November, provided Cricket Australia and the ICC agree to reschedule the T20 World Cup. The six-month travel restrictions in Australia end on September 30 if the situation becomes normal and the World Cup is scheduled in October-November.
The other option is having a curtailed IPL in six weeks between September and early October as it's highly unlikely that the Asia Cup will happen.
However, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani has asserted that the PCB will not agree to cancelling the Asia Cup, scheduled in the UAE in September, to make room for the Indian Premier League.
Money riding on the Indian Premier League
- BCCI earns Rs 4,000 crore through broadcasting and digital rights, and 20 per cent of franchisee revenues and sponsorships.
- Each franchisee makes Rs 250-300 crore from share of central revenues, home stadia ticket sales, licensing fee, merchandising and advertising, and sponsors of the team.
- Disney is expected to make Rs 3,000 crore from advertising and broadcasting sponsors as it beams the matches on TV and its OTT channel, Disney-Hotstar.
- Rs 700 crore fees of players, including foreign ones, at stake.
Here is the list of major sports tournaments that get cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus pandemic:
| Major sports events affected by Coronavirus pandemic | |
| Sports event | Status |
| Tokyo Olympics | Postponed to 2021 |
| Cricket | |
| India vs South Africa ODI series | Cancelled |
| Australia vs New Zealand (2nd and 3rd ODI) | Cancelled |
| Pakistan Super League | Suspended |
| England vs Sri Lanka Test series | Cancelled |
| Australia vs Bangladesh Test series | Postponed |
| Archery | |
| World Cup in Shanghai | Cancelled |
| Badminton | |
| China masters | Postponed |
| German Open | Cancelled |
| Asian Championships | Suspended |
| India Open | Suspended |
| Swiss Open | Suspended |
| Malaysian Open | Suspended |
| Singapore Open | Suspended |
| Thomas and Uber Cup finals | Postponed from May to Auguts 2020 |
| Tennis | |
| All AITA tournaments | Cancelled |
| BNP Paribas Open | Cancelled |
| Miami Open | Cancelled |
| Monte Carlo Masters | Cancelled |
| French Open | Postponed to Sept 20-OCt 4 |
| Wimbledon 2020 | Cancelled |
| Athletics | |
| World Indoor Championships Nanjing | Postponed to March 2021 |
| Field Hockey | |
| India's tour of Japan (Jr Women's Asia Cup) | Postponed |
| FIH Pro League | Suspended till June |
| Basketball | |
| NBA | Suspended |
| Shooting | |
| New Delhi World Cup | postponed to May 5-12 and June 2-9 |
| Boxing | |
| World Cup in Germany | Cancelled |
| Formula one | |
| Australian GP | Cancelled |
| Bahrain GP | Postponed |
| Vietnamese GP | Postponed |
| Chinese GP | Postponed |
| Monaco GP | Cancelled |
| Azerbaijan GP | Postponed |
| Football | |
| Champions League | Suspended till further notice |
| Europa League | Suspended till further notice |
| EPL and FA Cup | Postponed till April 30 |
| Euro 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| Copa America | postponed to 2021 |
| Fifa U-17 Women's World Cup | Postponed |
