New Delhi, Mar 12: The money-spinning IPL mulled a closed-door edition in a desperate bid to avoid cancellation as the deadly COVID-19 sent Indian sports into quarantine after a government directive asked for fans to be kept away from all action to prevent the pandemic from spreading.
“…Ensure that no public gathering takes place in any sporting event. In the event the sporting event cannot be avoided, the same could be done without allowing gathering of people, including spectators,” read an order from the Sports Ministry which caused quite an upheaval through the day.
The directive ensured that the remaining two ODIs between India and South Africa in Lucknow and Kolkata, the Indian Super League football tournament final in Goa, and the last day of the Ranji Trophy summit clash in Rajkot will be played in front of empty stadiums, an unprecedented turn of events in Indian sports.
On the IPL, the BCCI maintained a stoic silence but the Sports Ministry dropped enough hints that the glitzy T20 tournament could be held in empty stadiums too due to the health crisis even as foreign players were ruled out till April 15 following government-imposed travel restrictions. The event is due to start on March 29 in Mumbai.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also advised the BCCI to “not do it at this time but if the organisers want to go ahead, it is their decision”.
In another major development, the All India Football Federation said that the remaining 28 matches of the I-League, including the marquee Kolkata derby between champions Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, are likely to be played in empty stadiums.
This came a day after organisers of badminton’s India Open, starting March 24, decided they won’t allow spectators this year.
Besides, the national tennis federation and the Paralympic Committee of India decided to put on hold all national and state-level championships till April 15, keeping in mind government directions.
The Athletics Federation of India, on the other hand, withdrew invitations to foreign competitors for the Federation Cup but said that the event itself will go ahead in Patiala from April 10-13.
The IPL’s fate would be up for discussion at the event’s Governing Council meeting on Saturday and the BCCI has decided to adopt a wait and watch policy till then. Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya said that events can continue but without the presence of crowds.
“We have asked all the NSFs, including the BCCI, to follow the Health Ministry’s latest advisory, which says public gatherings should be avoided in all events, including sporting activities,” Julaniya said.
“The sporting events can go on but the advisory needs to be followed,” he added.
The government on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India rose to more than 70.
The outbreak, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, has led to more than 4,000 deaths and left over 100,000 infected globally.
In India, Karnataka and Delhi have declared COVID-19 epidemics. The two states are home to IPL teams Royal Challengers Bangalore (led by Virat Kohli) and Delhi Capitals.
The shooting World Cup and the Indian Open golf tournament are so far the biggest events to have been postponed in the Indian sporting calendar.
Meanwhile, the Indian boxing team, returning from the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Jordan, will be asked to stay “home-quarantined” even though all the members have got the necessary health clearances.
A total of 13 boxers and almost an equal number of coaching staff arrive back on Thursday after clinching an unprecedented nine Olympic slots in the qualifiers which concluded on Wednesday in Amman.
Meanwhile, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Thursday cancelled all domestic tourney’s with immediate effect, after the government issued health advisory to combat rising coronavirus cases in the country.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Several state associations and private stakeholders host plenty of ranking series tournaments, both junior and seniors every week. (PTI)
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