IPL fans can dare to dream again

NEWDELHI: Sports received a boost on Sunday after the Centre allowed stadiums to function during lockdown 4.0, opening a window for IPL to be held later this year. The order, however, says spectators will not be allowed in the stadium.

NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI/ CHANDIGARH: Indian sports received a boost on Sunday after the Centre allowed stadiums to function in its directives for lockdown 4.0, opening a window for the postponed Indian Premier League to be held later in the year.

“Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open; however, spectators will not be allowed,” the union home ministry said in its statement on the fresh rules.

It will allow athletes in Olympic sports to resume training while cricketers and officials worldwide will see it as a major first step to hold the glitzy cricket league, albeit in front of empty stands.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly said not staging IPL this year would lead to a loss of around ~4,000 crore. But many other things also need to move for the league to happen.

For starters, the ban on domestic and international flights stays. Experts, officials and players are agreed a window in the cricket calendar will open only around October. And that too would depend on the T20 World Cup in Australia, in October-november, being postponed. The International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting on May 28 is expected to discuss the T20 World Cup’s fate, something that has kept the BCCI and the franchises interested.

BCCI officials are confident postponing the T20 World Cup will open up a window for IPL in October-november; and if the health and travel situation improves, it can be held in its usual grand manner.

IPL franchise officials have their fingers crossed but also point to the ground work that needs to be done and conditions to improve, for the tournament to happen. Chennai Super Kings CEO, KS Viswanathan, said teams will have to play without fans if it came to that. CSK has a huge following, with fans packing into the MA Chidambaram stadium even during training.

“If that is the final thing, that’s what we will have to do. At this point we can’t expect crowds to come in at all. Let us see how it works out,” he said.