IPL 2020 News: Sourav Ganguly hints at conducting IPL 2020 in empty stadiums

Sourav Ganguly hints conducting IPL 2020 in empty stadiums: The BCCI President opened up on the future of IPL 2020 and domestic cricket.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has ensured that the board is working towards conducting domestic tournaments in a way that they stay “competitive” and participation for players across the country remains “feasible”.

In times of the novel COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications, frequent travel for months is unlikely to be preferred citing players’ and support staff’s health. “The BCCI is in the process of planning the domestic competitions for the next cricketing season,” Ganguly said in his letter sent to all state associations last night.

“We are working on various formats and options in our endeavour to ensure that various domestic tournaments are held, they stay competitive and participation is feasible. The BCCI will come up with more details on this front over the next couple of weeks,” read Ganguly’s letter.

Sourav Ganguly hints conducting IPL 2020 in empty stadiums

The global pandemic’s biggest blow to cricket till now has come in the form of the indefinite postponement of the 13th season of the Indian Premier League. In his letter, Ganguly highlighted how all stakeholders are keen to witness IPL 2020 and that the BCCI is working on “all possible options” including playing in empty stadiums.

“The BCCI is working on all possible options to ensure that we are able to stage the IPL this year, even if it means playing the tournament in empty stadiums. The fans, franchises, players, broadcasters, sponsors and all other stakeholders are keenly looking forward to the possibility of IPL being hosted this year.

“Recently a lot of players, both from India and other countries, participating in the IPL have also shown their keenness on being part of this year’s IPL. We are optimistic and the BCCI will shortly decide on the future course of action on this,” Ganguly added in his letter.

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Ganguly’s letter came hours after ICC’s meeting regarding the future of the T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. While the global body is yet tot take a call on whether the world event will be postponed or not, it is being speculated that its postponement might make way for IPL 2020.

While the T20 World Cup is slated to commence from October 18 this year, reports were rife previously that BCCI is expected to kick-start IPL 2020 from September 25. If that becomes the reality, one possible challenge for the BCCI would be the Asia Cup which is also scheduled to be played in the same month.

The postponement of the T20 World Cup might also postpone India’s three-match T20I series against Australia in October as that can be played in January 2021 after the scheduled India’s tour of Australia 2020-21.