Ganguly also stated that there's no deadline as to when the league can begin © Getty
Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly has said that the situation given 'rise in concerns surrounding COVID-19' are to be assessed every week in a bid to figure out what lay ahead of IPL 2020. The season, which was scheduled to kick-off on March 29, has been suspended until April 15, without any confirmation of whether it will begin from that date on.
As of Monday, all possible cricket all over the world stands suspended, cancelled or postponed, with the BCCI even putting its upcoming domestic fixtures - like the Irani Trophy - on hold. Ganguly stressed that safety of the players and everyone involved will dictate the terms going ahead.
"Safety is most important for the players, and at the moment (with) what's going around in the world and India with the government directives this is all we can do. We have postponed remaining domestic matches," Ganguly said.
The IPL Governing Council held a meeting on Saturday and explained to the franchises about the uncertainty at the moment. Ganguly also stated that there's no deadline as to when the league can begin and that the situation in the country is going to be assessed and re-assessed constantly, keeping in mind the security concerns.
"We met with the owners, to tell them how it can happen and where do we stand at the moment. At the moment, it is just postponed. We will assess the situation," Ganguly said. "It will be re-assessed every week. I can't say at the moment (about any deadline). It has to be worked around. As much as we want to host the IPL, we also need to be careful about the security," he added.
Even if the pandemic dies down by April 15 and the league is to begin then, it remains to be seen how the schedule is tweaked. The original fixture list was made with a view to reducing the number of double-header days, which might have to be revoked, considering more than two weeks would've already been lost to the pandemic should the IPL begin on April 15, or even later.
"If it (IPL) is (postponed till) April 15, then, in any case 15 days are gone, it has to be a truncated one. How truncated, how many games, I can't say at the moment."
Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly has said that the situation given 'rise in concerns surrounding COVID-19' are to be assessed every week in a bid to figure out what lay ahead of IPL 2020. The season, which was scheduled to kick-off on March 29, has been suspended until April 15, without any confirmation of whether it will begin from that date on.
As of Monday, all possible cricket all over the world stands suspended, cancelled or postponed, with the BCCI even putting its upcoming domestic fixtures - like the Irani Trophy - on hold. Ganguly stressed that safety of the players and everyone involved will dictate the terms going ahead.
"Safety is most important for the players, and at the moment (with) what's going around in the world and India with the government directives this is all we can do. We have postponed remaining domestic matches," Ganguly said.
The IPL Governing Council held a meeting on Saturday and explained to the franchises about the uncertainty at the moment. Ganguly also stated that there's no deadline as to when the league can begin and that the situation in the country is going to be assessed and re-assessed constantly, keeping in mind the security concerns.
"We met with the owners, to tell them how it can happen and where do we stand at the moment. At the moment, it is just postponed. We will assess the situation," Ganguly said. "It will be re-assessed every week. I can't say at the moment (about any deadline). It has to be worked around. As much as we want to host the IPL, we also need to be careful about the security," he added.
Even if the pandemic dies down by April 15 and the league is to begin then, it remains to be seen how the schedule is tweaked. The original fixture list was made with a view to reducing the number of double-header days, which might have to be revoked, considering more than two weeks would've already been lost to the pandemic should the IPL begin on April 15, or even later.
"If it (IPL) is (postponed till) April 15, then, in any case 15 days are gone, it has to be a truncated one. How truncated, how many games, I can't say at the moment."