IPL franchises set for conference call to decide fate of 2020 cricket showpiece

INDIAN Premier League franchise owners will have a conference call this week to decide the fate of the 2020 tournament.

The 13th season of the IPL was due to begin on 29 March but coronavirus caused that to be delayed until April 15.

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And officials at the Indian board have scheduled a call with owners for Tuesday to decide what will happen to the competition.

The world is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic and India is no different.

The country has now reported 396 cases of the virus and was placed into a 14-hour stay-at-home lockdown in a bid to test it’s preparedness.

It was unclear whether the initial delay meant the tournament would be shortened in length and time, or whether IPL bosses would still try and play the full 60-game schedule.

It had been reported last week that the BCCI could look to delay the competition until later in the summer and play it in the July-September window.

And officials are also open to hosting the competition overseas – like the 2009 edition, which was held in South Africa – depending on the coronavirus situation abroad.

India’s schedule for July to September is fairly clear with just the Asia Cup to play and also a series against Sri Lanka.

Any delay until that period, though, could mean a clash with The Hundred – a new tournament planned to be introduced in England this summer.

England players would likely miss out on the IPL if it is rescheduled as they’re due to be playing Pakistan in a home series.