I hope we don't have 2020 without IPL

Hosting the IPL in India remains BCCI President Sourav Ganguly’s “first priority” and hopes that the world of cricket will not have to endure 2020 without the dazzling event, despite his concerns about the growing cases of COVID-19.

The hugely popular T20 league, which was scheduled to start on March 29, is suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the former India captain said it is important for cricket to return to normal, any decision on the IPL can only be made after the ICC decides the fate of the T20 World Cup, to be played in Australia in October. -November.

“We don’t want 2020 to end without an IPL. Our first priority is India and even if we have 35-40 days, we will host it. But we don’t know where …” Ganguly said on the India Today program “Inspiration”.

New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the UAE have volunteered to organize the event in case there are logistical problems in India with the rapidly increasing cases of coronavirus.

Organizing the league abroad is an option, but that would increase costs.

“I will put it in this order. First of all, if we can (have an IPL) within the time frame since IPL has a limited window.

“Second, India. If it is not possible, we are thinking of going (abroad). But going where … because if you go out it becomes expensive for everyone: franchises and food.

“Due to the conversion rate and the currency exchange rate, it becomes expensive. So we are monitoring, but as I said, we are very interested in organizing it and we cross our fingers. ”

The delay in making a final decision on the fate of the T20 World Cup is also keeping BCCI bosses and other IPL stakeholders waiting.

“We don’t know yet as we don’t have an ICC decision regarding the T20 World Cup. We continue to hear different things from the media, but unless the Board members are officially communicated, it is not known what it’s happening, “he said.

Ganguly is aware of the grim situation in Indian cities with IPL franchises.

“If it doesn’t happen in India because of COVID, then places like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, these have great teams in IPL, but at this point, you can’t lay your hand on the heart and say that cricket will happen in these places.

“Ahmedabad, we were eager to go there. It is an amazing stadium. I don’t know if we can go there or not. At the moment it is not easy to say that we are going to organize it in India. ”

Only once in the IPL’s 12-year history has the entire tournament moved outside of India.
In 2009, it was held in South Africa when the dates collided with the country’s general elections.

“Look, it has been very difficult for all of us and I look at everyone in general. Being locked up since March, April and May and then everything opened. But everything opened with a scare.

“Anyway, if you look at the numbers, it’s more than it was during the blockade. It’s spreading very fast. It’s scary, but I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life.”

However, the BCCI chief also hoped that the sport would return as soon as possible.

“Look, I want to have it since I said that cricket needs to come back. For us, this is actually out of season, which has really helped. We ended our season in March, just after which IPL was about to start.

“And we had to cancel IPL, which is the most important part of our national season. We want IPL to happen. Because life needs to go back to normal. Cricket needs to get back to normal.”