Sri Lanka offer to host IPL 2020: The Sri Lankan cricket chief has revealed that he will soon write to BCCI regarding conducting IPL 2020 in Sri Lanka.
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A day after BCCI announced that the 13th season of the Indian Premier League has been suspended until further notice in the wake of the novel COVID-19 pandemic, the richest cricket board has started to receive suggestions/offers regarding conducting the cash-rich league outside of India.
It is worth mentioning that the tournament has been conducted outside of India twice in the past – 2009 and 2014 in South Africa and UAE respectively. While the general elections in the country had forced the IPL to get shifted overseas, it is a global crisis which has affected him this time round.
Former Australia batsman Simon Katich, who had played for Kings XI Punjab in the first two seasons of the tournament and was recently roped in as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s head coach, is open to play IPL 2020 outside of India.
“Whether it would be in Australia [or elsewhere], that’s an interesting topic of conversation. There would be a few teams – us in particular at RCB, we’d be very happy for it to be played abroad, because a number of our overseas players are Australian and South African, who really would enjoy these conditions in Australia.
“It would be interesting to see if that would eventuate but obviously it’s one of many scenarios that’s being discussed,” Katich was quoted as saying by SEN Radio.
Sri Lanka offer to host IPL 2020
The uncertainty regarding the ongoing situation around the world has invited plentiful media reports regarding the future of IPL 2020. ” [IPL 2020] will only commence when it is safe and appropriate to do so,” read the statement issues by BCCI secretary Jay Shah yesterday.
Just when there was no doubt regarding the organizers leaving no stone unturned to conduct the tournament, SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) President Shammi Silva has offered to host the biggest T20 league in the island nation.
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“It looks like Sri Lanka will be clear of the coronavirus before India. If so, we can host the tournament here. We will be writing to the Indian cricket board soon.
“If the Indian board does agree to play the tournament here, we’re ready to provide facilities in line with the requirements and recommendations of medical professionals. It would be a substantial source of income for Sri Lankan cricket as well,” Silva was quoted as saying by Reuters in Colombo.
