IPL 2020: BCCI Official Confirms 13th Season Indefinitely Postponed Due To Lockdown Extension

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, extended the nationwide lockdown to the 3rd of May. This means that this will have a substantial impact on the future of IPL 2020.

According to the statement by PM Modi, all states will be under close monitoring. Only those states which will not observe a rise in hotspots will receive permission to steadily lift the lockdown.

“Till 20th April, all districts, localities, states will be closely monitored, as to how strictly they are implementing norms. States which will not let hotspots increase, they could be allowed to let some important activities resume, but with certain conditions.”

As of now, IPL 2020 is postponed indefinitely

The decision to extend the lockdown comes after the positive cases crossed 10,000. Furthermore, there have been over 350 deaths recorded due to the virus. Considering this, it is highly likely that the fate of the 13th season of Indian Premier League is not going be bright anymore.

A BCCI official gave his statement about the situation. According to that, the committee will get together today to decide what will happen. As of now, IPL 2020 is going to postponed indefinitely.

Since lockdown has been extended, we have to postpone the IPL for the time being, the decision will be intimated, we will discuss the matter later today”, according to ANI.

Franchises refuse go ahead without foreign players

Initially IPL 2020 was supposed to initiate on the 29th of March. However, due to the lockdown and visa ban by the Government, it got postponed to 15th April. As of now, there is no saying when the tournament will commence.

Now, even if India lifts the ban, the IPL 2020 franchises refuse to move forward without the foreign cricket players. Therefore, it is important to make sure other countries are lifting the bans as well before announcing a date.

The two ways that BCCI can have the IPL immediately after bans lift is by proceeding without an audience and shortening the tenure of the tournament. All of these circumstances and options are being considered by the BCCI.