COVID-19 has stalled things like never before ever since March, and the it isn’t done taking a toll on proceedings. One of the worst affected by the pandemic is BCCI’s schedule, which has led to cancellation of several series and tournaments ever since it began to spread in India.
More so, the camp for the contracted players of the BCCI is also hanging in the balance with lockdown norms changing dynamically in the country owing to a sudden splurge in cases. It was earlier reported that the camp may start from July, however, it hasn’t seen light yet, and there isn’t absolute clarity as to when it may.
“Please remember, without the central government and respective state government approvals, the BCCI cannot do anything,” say those tracking developments, according to a report in a leading daily.
While there hasn’t been an official confirmation on the cancellation of the T20 World Cup, which was to be held in Australia later this year, sources suggest that, that might be the case with IPL going ahead in that window. BCCI is leaving no stone unturned to make IPL happen, failure of which can cost the board losses in the range of INR 4000 crores. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has been very vocal about his wish to conduct IPL this year and has more or less confirmed the marquee tournament’s staging.
“The present (interim) schedule for Australia tour was released by Cricket Australia (CA) with the first Test to begin on December 3. Also, to note is a three-match T20 series that was scheduled ahead of the Tests, to be followed by a three-match ODI series.
“One of those two – either T20s or ODIs – will have to be cancelled. Most likely the T20s because the format was put in place keeping the T20 World Cup in Australia in mind. Now, that’ not happening, and IPL is. The start of the Test series will also be pushed by a week,” say those in the know.
Also the team will be likely play two warm-up games to, pushing the start of the first Test to December 10.
“The president talked about a shortened quarantine. What he may have meant was that players will go through two separate Corona tests before leaving for Australia and two tests after landing there and if all are negative, health authorities are indicating that two weeks of lockdown won’t be necessarily mandatory. Teams can start practice,” say sources.
India are supposed to play England, following the Australia series, and that too, might see changes in the schedule.
“Changes will be made to that schedule too. England are likely to play three Tests in India instead of five, followed by five T20s and five ODIs. That will also help compensate the host broadcaster who lost the India-South Africa series in March due to Covid,” sources add.
With the situation changing by the day, the schedule isn’t concrete yet, but the board hopes to get more clarity on the same within the next two weeks following a nod from the Central Government for staging of IPL.
It is also reported that BCCI is still eyeing the March window in 2021 for the 14th edition of IPL.
