What Is The Fate Of IPL In The Time Of Coronavirus

IPL Franchise teams in the meantime are keeping a tab on the situations. The teams which have started their practice so far have handed over the health advisory to their cricketers.

IPL Franchise teams in the meantime are keeping a tab on the situations. (Representative photo: Getty images)

Sporting events across the globe have been severely affected after the outbreak of novel coronavirus. In the latest turn of events FIFA after the meeting with Asian Football Confederation has issued a statement that the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup are all set to be postponed. Everest Premier League Cricket in Nepal, where Chris Gayle is the star attraction has been postponed too. In this scenario, the big question is what is the fate of IPL? Will it go according to the schedule? Back to back matches, jam-packed stadiums, frequent travel from one city to another... Players have to do everything which has been advised to be avoided if possible in the present scenario. The New Zealand Cricket Board has sent health advisories to all their 6 cricketers who are all set to play in the richest franchise cricket league of the world. Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Michell McClenaghan and Kane Williamson are the Kiwi cricketers to play at the Indian Premier League's 13th edition. BCCI through different franchise teams is keeping touch with the foreign cricketers who will play the tournament this year. Before the start of IPL, India will take on the Proteas in a three-match ODI series starting on 12th March. South African cricket team is going to arrive in India and will be reaching Dharamshala on the 10th of March . Both India and South Africa will have a training session on March 11 before the match. Two more matches of this series will be played in Lucknow and Kolkata. Now, BCCI is keeping a tab on the turn of events. So far all matches including IPL is absolutely on track and Sourav Ganguly has said on Wednesday that, " Nothing has been discussed on this ". Despite the statement from the BCCI Boss why there's a worry? The reason is huge public gatherings in the IPL matches. This is keeping everyone including the Cricket Board in a spot of bother. A senior official from a state cricket association said, " So far the Indian Super League and I League matches are going on as per the schedule and there hasn't been any adverse report from there. Few other sporting events are going on too. Hopefully, IPL will continue as per the planned schedule ." IPL Franchise teams in the meantime are keeping a tab on the situations. The teams which have started their practice so far have handed over the health advisory to their cricketers. Indian Premier League since its inceptions has proved out to be a boost for the Indian economy. Hefty investments, huge ratings, massive returns from the league have drawn its comparisons with the English Premier League Soccer and NBA league in the US. According to the data provided by BCCI, IPL has contributed a few hundred million dollars to India's GDP consistently in the last few years. Thus BCCI is giving its best efforts on what measures can be taken so that they can successfully organise the event amid fear among people after the outbreak of coronavirus. Still, three weeks to go for the start of the league and the cricket board wants to go slow and monitor the situation well. But as of now, IPL is very much on.