OFFICIAL: IPL 2020 Suspended Till Further Notice

With coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced that it is suspending the 2020 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) till further notice. The decision was expected as it’s almost impossible to hold a tournament of such a pedigree in such circumstances when the whole of India is under lockdown as the government aims to stop the wide spreading of the virus.

NEWS : IPL 2020 suspended till further notice

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The BCCI released the following statement on Thursday:

“Due to the evolving global health concerns regarding Covid-19 and lockdown measures implemented by the Government of India to contain the spread of the pandemic, the IPL Governing Council of the BCCI has decided that the IPL 2020 Season will be suspended until further notice,” the BCCI said in a release.

“The health and safety of the nation and everyone involved in our great sport remains our top priority and a scuh, the BCCI along with the Franchise Owners, Broadcasters and Sponsors and all the Stakeholders acknowledge the IPL 2020 season will only commence when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”

It’s a huge blow for all the cricket fans, but more so for the BCCI, whose large chunk of revenue comes from its cash-rich baby IPL. If the situation doesn’t improve and the IPL gets cancelled for the season, it is expected that the BCCI will be bracing for a huge $500 million financial hit.

BCCI further added that it will continue to monitor the situation and will take advice from the Government of India, and State Government.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had earlier said that the nothing changed regarding the IPL and the situation remains the same as it was when the BCCI first suspended the season due to coronavirus threat. He also said that the Board will be reviewing the situation every week.