Coronavirus: Will take all necessary precautions during IPL, says Brijesh Patel

The IPL 2020 season starts from March 29

Brijesh-Patel-file (File) Brijesh Patel

Brijesh Patel, chairman of the IPL Governing Council, reiterated that the Indian Premier League is set to go ahead as per schedule this year, despite the coronavirus outbreak. With the virus spreading fast and wide, and public gatherings being discouraged, all eyes are on the Board of Control for Cricket in India and whether its marquee annual event will take off on March 29.

Speaking to THE WEEK, Patel said, "Why will COVID-19 attack only IPL? We are monitoring the situation. All cricket matches, be it Ranji Trophy final, or series between Afghanistan and Ireland, England and Sri Lanka and Australia-New Zealand are currently going ahead as per schedule. The Road Safety World Series is on. These matches have seen full houses at the stadium in Mumbai. Local trains are running, schools and colleges are not totally shut."

Patel assured cricket fans that all necessary "precautions during the IPL" will be taken. "We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. We will take all necessary precautions as prescribed by WHO and Ministry of Health."

Asked if at all the IPL is rescheduled, what will be the likely window, Patel said, "Let us see. The IPL Governing Council is meeting on 14th March to take stock of the situation."

The former India player believed that most of the players involved in the IPL were either in India or coming from 'nearby' countries. "Nobody is coming from Italy or countries from where the government has stopped people from coming to India," he said.

Asked whether the IPL matches could be played in front of smaller crowds or empty stadiums as some football matches are currently being played in certain countries, Patel said, "We will take a call on all this as and when needed."

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