Media reports suggest that the cricket bonanza might be back this year after being pushed due to Covid 19 pandemic.
Though popular consensus was that the matches should be played only for the TV audience, to maintain business interest and fervor of the game, the wait and watch method was approached.
However, now it seems matches will be on without the audience.
For the first time, BCCI has made an internal communication to its affiliated state units that plans are afoot to stage the suspended edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), this year.
“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,” president Ganguly wrote in a letter.
BCCI stands to suffer a revenue loss of around Rs4000 crores if the IPL is not held this year.It has also been communicated to the state units that SOPs for resumption of training and cricket activities will soon be sent. “The BCCI is in the process of developing a Covid-19 Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for all state cricket associations. Essentially this SOP is being made with a view of providing our Members with a standard set of guidelines which will help the associations to resume cricket in their respective areas. The BCCI has engaged medical specialists for the drafting of this SOP. I would like to assure all our members that the office bearers at BCCI are continuously monitoring the pandemic situation and all efforts are being made to ensure that cricket resumes soon.”
