Corona may force IPL postponement
Mumbai, March 11: The latest directive from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on Wednesday has put the participation of foreign players in IPL 2020 in doubt.
The Ministry tweeted that “all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.”
Maha wants matches
in closed doors Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the government has two options: either postpone IPL matches or limit them to TV audience only in view of the coronavirus situation in the state.
Tope’s statement comes on a day when two persons from Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in Maharashtra to seven. Tope said the government could either postpone the IPL matches or have the fixtures only for the televised audience. “One thing is sure that there will be no sale of tickets," sources in the state government said, adding a final decision will be taken soon.
Speaking to reporters,
Tope said the state cabinet discussedthe issue of coronavirus and IPL matches.
Asked about the IPL, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also said there is a proposal to hold the cash-rich T20 tournament without stadium audience or postpone it. “The government is yet to take a decision. There should be no crowd at any cost,” he said.
Ticket sales banned Meanwhile, ticket sales in Maharashtra for the opener between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have been banned by the Shiv Senaled Maha Vikas Aghadi government, according to a report on CNBC-TV 18.
The measure has reportedly been taken to avoid the gathering of a large number of people amid the spread of coronavirus in the country.
“There is always a possible danger of spread (of contagious diseases) when large numbers of people gather in one place... Such (IPL) events can always be organised later,” Tope said.
IPL GC to meet on Saturday
The IPL Governing Council is set to meet on Saturday to discuss, among other things, the viability of hosting the 13th edition.