The Indian Premier League (IPL) which was scheduled to begin from March 29 has been pushed back to April 15. A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) media release signed by its secretary Jay Shah reads, “BCCI has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation.”

 

Later, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official also issued a statement putting the onus on the BCCI saying, “I think it is for the organizers to decide whether to go ahead with it or not. Our advice would be to not do it at this time but if they want to go ahead, it is their decision.”

Shah’s official statement assures that the cricket board is “concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience.