The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) till April 15, as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus. It was slated to begin on March 29.
“The BCCI 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 the IPL, including fans, have a safe cricketing experience,” it said in a statement on Friday. The move will weigh on sponsors and broadcasters who have put in a lot of money into the event. Mobile phone maker Vivo, the top sponsor, did not offer any comments on the decision.
The BCCI said it will work closely with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all other relevant central and state government departments to figure out the way forward.
The decision comes after key State governments including Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka expressed concerns over hosting IPL matches given the threat of the virus spreading.
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