IPL set to be postponed further after lockdown extended

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League 2020 is set to be postponed further as India extended the nationwide lockdown until May 3 in order to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government has decided to extend the nation lockdown – world’s biggest shutdown.  

The biggest T20 tournament, which was scheduled to start on March 29, was initially suspended until April 15. IPL 2020 is thus all set to miss the April-May window in the cramped cricket calendar.

According to Indian media reports, there is no clarity at the moment surrounding the future of IPL 2020. The BCCI will review the situation only after May 3 when the Indian government comes up with further guidelines regarding the COVID-19 crisis.

Earlier on Sunday, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said that the board would keep monitoring developments but that it can’t say anything regarding the current situation.

He further said, “It’s just simple common sense that at the moment, nothing is in favour of any kind of sport anywhere in the world, forget IPL,”

Under the lockdown in India, only essential businesses, such as groceries and pharmacies, are allowed to remain open and city transport services are limited to emergency staff, while all trains and flights have been suspended.