New Delhi, Mar 13:
India’s ODI series against South Africa stood cancelled, the IPL was pushed back by a fortnight while there were postponements galore in other sports as the COVID-19 pandemic threw the country’s sporting calendar into unprecedented disarray.
A day after the sports ministry ordered that fans be locked out of sporting events in a desperate bid to halt the deadly coronavirus spread, an under-pressure BCCI finally relented and on Friday postponed the start of its most glitzy event from March 29 to April 15.
Hours later, the Board also decided to call off India’s remaining two ODIs against South Africa in Lucknow (March 15) and Kolkata (March 18) citing the pandemic, which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally. The BCCI later issued a statement to say that the series will be rescheduled at later dates.
India has recorded more than 80 positive cases, including one death.
Other sports were also in closure mode to ensure compliance with government guidelines.
The remainder of the national football league was officially declared out of bounds for fans, the chess federation and the golf body suspended all action for the next one month, while the fate of badminton’s India Open hung in balance after host Delhi’s government banned all sporting activity for a month.
The India Open is scheduled to start March 24.
The IPL, which has been the subject of most intense speculation ever since sporting events began taking a hit because of the virus, will have a meeting of its Governing Council in Mumbai on Saturday where the officialdom will thrash out the league’s format in view of the changed schedule.
A decision to have it in empty stadiums is also likely to be ratified at the meet.
“The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience,” read a statement from Board Secretary Jay Shah.
There is a possibility that the tournament will feature more double-headers than previously planned and at least five optional venues are being kept ready after state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka along with Delhi refused permission for the games. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel