Will the IPL matches happen this year?

As people across the country have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the 13th edition of the IPL tournament that is scheduled to begin on March 29, there might be a change in the plan due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has now been declared a pandemic by the WHO.

As public gatherings are advised to be avoided in the current situation, it is unlikely that the matches will take place in the presence of spectators at the stadiums. And due to the recent visa restrictions imposed by the government, no foreign players will be available for the IPL this year until April 15. “The foreign players who play in the IPL come under the Business Visa category. As per the government’s directive, they can’t come till April 15,” a BCCI source reportedly told a news agency.

Following a meeting of the event’s Governing Council on March 14, the fate of the IPL tournament will be decided. “The BCCI will take the best possible course of action in the interest of the game, the players, the fans and the league. The circumstances are changing and the board doesn’t really have control over the situation. The IPL Governing Council is meeting in Mumbai on Saturday and has to take a call keeping in mind the diktat handled by the central government,” a BCCI official reportedly stated.

Meanwhile, ticket sales for the opening match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai have been banned by the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had earlier stated, “There is always a possible danger of spread (of contagious diseases) when large numbers of people gather in one place. Such (IPL) events can always be organized later.”

Despite BCCI president Sourav Ganguly ruling out any possible threats concerning the IPL schedule, it is highly unlikely that gatherings of large crowds will be encouraged at any point in the near future. Whether or not the tournament will be conducted behind closed doors after April 15 is yet to be announced.