Official: IPL 2020 date postponed due to coronavirus pandemic

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, which was scheduled to begin on March 29, has been postponed to mid-April following the global concern over the coronavirus pandemic.

Ahead of the meeting of the event’s Governing Council on March 14, the office-bearers of the BCCI, led by president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, reportedly met at the board’s headquarters earlier today to decide the fate of the tournament. A source close to TOI reportedly told the news agency, “The postponement gives BCCI the time to reassess the situation and have that much more time on hand to take a further call. The postponement will allow them to see if the threat of the virus ceases any time soon, remains in control or gets worse. Depending on these scenarios and what the central and state governments say, a further call can be taken.”

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has banned the conduction of IPL matches in the national capital and 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. The complete official statement from the BCCI is expected tomorrow.