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BCCI chief says will host the T20 league even if we get 35 to 40 days
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New Delhi(Agencies): Hosting
the IPL in India remains BCCI president Sourav Ganguly's "first
priority" and he is hoping that the cricket world will not have to endure
a 2020 sans the glitzy event, despite his concerns around the rising COVID-19
cases.
The hugely-popular T20 league,
which was scheduled to start on March 29, stands suspended due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
While the former India captain
said it was important for cricket to return to normalcy, any decision on the
IPL can be taken only after the ICC decides on the fate of the T20 World Cup,
scheduled to be played in Australia in October-November.
"We don't want the year
2020 to finish without an IPL. Our first priority is India and even if we get
35 to 40 days, we will host it. But we don't know where...," Ganguly said
on India Today show 'Inspiration'.
New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the
UAE have offered to host the event in case there are logistical issues in India
with the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.
Organising the league overseas
is an option but that would result in increased costs.
"I will put it in this
order. Firstly, whether we can (have an IPL) within the time frame as IPL has
limited window,” said Ganguly.
"Secondly India. If it's
not possible then we are thinking of going out (abroad). But going out
where...because if you go out it becomes expensive for everyone – franchises
and board,” she said.
"Because of conversion
rate and currency exchange rate it becomes expensive. So we are monitoring but
as I said we are very keen to host it and got our fingers crossed."
The delay in taking a final
call on the fate of the T20 World Cup is also keeping the BCCI bosses and other
IPL stakeholders waiting.
"We don't know yet as we
don't have a decision from ICC regarding the T20 World Cup. We keep hearing
different things from the media but unless it is officially told to Board
members, you don't know what's happening," he said.
Ganguly is aware of the grim
situation in Indian cities with IPL franchises.
"If it doesn't happen in
India because of COVID then places like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai,
these have big teams in IPL but at this point, you can't put hand to your heart
and say cricket will happen in these places,” said the former India captain.
"Ahmedabad we were keen
to go there. It's an amazing stadium. I don't know whether we can go there or
not. It's not easy at the moment to say we are going to host it in
India."
Only once in the 12-year
history of the IPL has the entire tournament been shifted out of India.
In 2009, it was held in South
Africa as the dates clashed with the general elections in the country.
"See it's been very tough
for every one of us and I look at everyone as a whole. Being in lockdown from
March, April and May and then everything opened up. But everything opened up
with a scare,” said Ganguly.
"Anyway, if you look at
numbers, it's more than it was during lockdown. It's spreading very quickly.
It's scary but I have never experienced any such thing ever in my
life."
The BCCI boss, though, also
hoped that the sport is back at the earliest. "See I want to have it as I
said that cricket needs to be back. For us this is actually off season which
has actually helped. We finished our season in March just after which IPL was
about to start.”
"And we had to cancel IPL
which is the most important part of our domestic season. We want IPL to happen.
Because life needs to be back to normal. Cricket needs to be back to
normal." PTI
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