IPL tournament could be a curtailed affair this year
This was one of the seven options discussed at the meeting BCCI officials had with owners of franchisees
Mumbai: Suspended till April 15 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 13th edition of IPL can only be a truncated one provided the situation improves, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said on Saturday.
The Indian Cricket Board on Friday postponed the start of this year's IPL from March 29 to April 15 in wake of the pandemic, which has caused massive upheaval across the globe.
Asked if matches will be pruned in the cash-rich event, Ganguly said, "It will happen because 15 days are anyway gone. But how truncated, how many games, I can't say at the moment."
Ganguly was speaking to reporters after the IPL Governing Council meeting here held after a meeting owners of IPL franchisees.
The Board's top boss reiterated that safety is their top priority. "Safety is most important and in the current situation with what is going around the world and in India, with government directives, we have even postponed the remaining domestic matches."
The decision to postpone the cash-rich league and the ODI rubber were taken hours after the Delhi government suspended all sporting activity in the national capital due to the ever-growing health crisis. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise.
In the meeting between the franchise owners and the BCCI top brass, six to seven options were discussed, including a curtailed IPL.
"We met with the owners to tell them how it can happen and where do we stand at the moment. At the moment, it is just postponed. We will assess the situation," Ganguly said.
"It will be reassessed every week. I can't say at the moment (about any deadline). I has to be worked around. As much as we want to host the IPL, we also need to be careful about the security."