IPL 2020 Latest Update: May first week expected deadline for starting IPL 2020

May first week expected deadline for starting IPL 2020: A BCCI source recently opened up on the future of IPL 2020.

No respite in the outbreak of a “pandemic” in COVID-19 has started to raise questions on the future of the 13th season of the Indian Premier League.

Originally slated to commence on March 29, IPL 2020 was among the many cricket tournaments which got postponed to restrict the spread of the virus.

Given the situation regarding the crisis, all sorts of speculations are being made from the government against conducting IPL 2020 to the conundrum regarding Australian cricketers’ participation in the tournament.

May first week expected deadline for starting IPL 2020

In a recent interaction with IANS, a BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) source opined that the first week of May is expected to be the deadline for IPL 2020 to start. The tournament might not be conducted if it gets further delayed than the first week of May.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, cited the example of how IPL 2009 was finished in a limited time span. “The latest we can wait is till the end of April. If the first game isn’t played by the first week of May then it will be almost impossible to have the league this year.

“Even if we have to wait till the end of April to follow all the procedures, we can take a cue from the South Africa edition and conduct the league successfully. If you remember, that was the shortest IPL with 59 games played over 37 days and we can do the same. But certain measures will have to be taken,” the source was quoted as saying.

Furthermore, the source stated that the the organizers are likely to conduct the whole tournament in Maharashta to reduce the amount of travel. “You cannot travel around the country in such a scenario. If we get the necessary permissions, we will have to stick to a place like Maharashtra where we have three stadiums in Mumbai and a stadium in Pune.

“I am sure this will then help us ensure that teams not only get fresh wickets to play, but also there is minimal travel involved. But before that, the government must deem it fit to organise tournaments. Public and player safety is the priority as the BCCI President has time and again,” the source added.