Mumbai Could Likely Play Lone Host City For Entire IPL 2020 If Covid-19 Situation Improves By Oct: BCCI Official

As per latest media reports on the staging of the IPL, the BCCI seems very keen on hosting the IPL during the September-October window but as ICC has still not taken a firm decision on the staging of the T20 World Cup slated be held in Australia later this year, the BCCI can only wait and watch for the time being.

Indian Premier League (Getty/AFP)

Amid high level deliberations taking place among the BCCI think tanks as to what could be the most feasable way to stage the IPL amid the Covid-19 pandemic, one major IPL shareholder has put forth an idea of holding the flagship T20 league entirely in Mumbai. As per latest media reports on the staging of the IPL, the BCCI seems very keen on hosting the IPL during the September-October window but as ICC has still not taken a firm decision on the staging of the T20 World Cup slated be held in Australia later this year, the BCCI can only wait and watch for the time being. As per a report in PTI a BCCI official said - “It’s at a very preliminary stage but if IPL happens in India and by October, situation is under control in Mumbai, there are four top-class floodlit grounds available in Mumbai. The logistics for BCCI, broadcasters (Star Sports), maintaining a bio-bubble, everything could be managed smoothly,” Mumbai has been among the worst affected cities in India with over 31000 Covid-19 cases. For the IPL to be held in Mumbai, not only will the Covid-19 situation need to improve, but with the city only having three major grounds in the Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil (Navi Mumbai), the plans could go out of the window. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had stated earlier, the Indian cricket board will do all within its power to ensure that the year 2020 does not end without the IPL. With the BCCI staring at a potential loss of approximately Rs 4000 crore for not holding the tournament, means that even if the IPL needs to be staged in empty stands, the board will put its best foot forward. The upcoming England-West Indies series from July 8 will mark the resumption of cricket, with the matches being played in a bio-secure environment, and the belief is that if Mumbai is able to pull off something similar, the IPL can indeed go ahead in the city. “Obviously, everything depends on Covid-19 situation in Mumbai. But if there are no spectators allowed and a bio-bubble is created, then Mumbai won’t be a bad option,” the official said.