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BCCI working on all options to stage IPL this year | Will IPL 2020 go ahead? | When will IPL 2020 happen? | BCCI working on plan to stage IPL

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday wrote a letter to all the state associations that the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) is willing to stage the tournament behind closed doors due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The board’s preparations to host the IPL in the September-November window is hindered by the ICC’s waiting game to decide the future of the T20 World Cup. The ICC T20 World Cup was scheduled to take place from 18th October till 15th November in Australia later this year, but there was no decision in the ICC Board meeting which took place on Wednesday (10th June).

Ganguly’s letter

Ganguly’s letter read, “The BCCI is working on all possible options to ensure that we are able to stage 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.”

The Indian Premier League was earlier scheduled to start on 29th March and the final was on 24th May 2020. However, it was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, which enforced a national lockdown in India. The BCCI is speculated to lose Rs 4000 crores from the lucrative media rights deal if the 13th edition of the IPL is cancelled, but the President said that the board is optimistic that the tournament will be played.

“Recently, a lot of players both from India and other countries, participating in the IPL have shown 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,” the former Indian captain added.

The Board President also wrote that they are preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) to be followed by the state associations for the resumptions of the sport in the country. The BCCI office bearers are yet to approve the SOPs.

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“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.”

Ganguly addressed the topic of the Indian domestic season in the letter. The details of the same will be addressed over the next fortnight. “Moving ahead, the BCCI is in the process of planning the domestic competitions for the next cricketing season. 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,”the letter further reads.

However, there is no clarity when the Indian team will return to action. The Virat Kohli led side was last seen in action during the New Zealand tour where they were whitewashed 2-0 by the Kiwis.

Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter.

Also read:

• The drastic changes that the BBL are looking to make to cricket
• Australia’s Test schedule announced: four blockbuster Tests vs India
• Will the World T20 go ahead? 3 reasons why it might not