Harshita
NEW DELHI: The coronavirus outbreak resulted in the cancellation of many events across the world in different fields. The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 is also under threat as it is an event that attracts a huge crowd. However, now the government has made it clear to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that if the league is unavoidable then it should be done behind closed doors.
Not only IPL but any sports event that has to be organized then it should not be in public gatherings said the Union Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya.
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Julaniya said, "All national federations, including the BCCI, have been told to adhere to the guidelines and advisory issued by the ministry of health and public welfare. We have also told them to avoid any public gathering and if a sporting event has to be organized, it should be done without gathering of people. It is the state government who has to manage the crowd and who has the power under the epidemic diseases act (Epidemic Act of 1897). If it is unavoidable and it has to be organized, then they should do it without collecting the crowd."
This is a clear indication for the BCCI that if they decide to go for the IPL then they have to make arrangements behind closed doors. Regarding the same, a BCCI official said that the board will adhere to the decision of the central government.
"The BCCI will take the best possible course of action in the interest of the game, the players, the fans and the league. The circumstances are changing and the board doesn't really have control over the situation. The IPL Governing Council is meeting in Mumbai on Saturday and have to take a call keeping in mind the diktat handed by the central government," said the official.
On Wednesday, the central govt suspended all visas so as to prevent the spreading of the novel COVID-19 as the country has already confirmed more than 70 positive cases.
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An IPL official told the news agency IANS, "We have come to a scenario wherein we get to hear of developments from the media rather than the board. All stakeholders should be kept in loop with regards to the decisions being taken. If the Sports Ministry has already made it clear that there can be no public gathering around sporting events, then it is very clear that the IPL has to be held either behind closed doors or be deferred. Don't think the second is an option as such getting foreign players post the original window will be an issue."
