MUMBAI: How far can the Indian cricket board go to host the Indian Premier League ( IPL ), should the Covid – outbreak show any signs of being brought under control in the coming months. Quite far, it seems.
Until Saturday, when the franchise owners had met the office-bearers of BCCI and governing council members of the IPL to discuss the matter, playing a truncated league within a delayed, shortened window looked like the designated ‘Plan B’.
However, as it turns out now, there seems to be no ‘Plan B’ in place but only ‘Plan A’ – which is to host the entire tournament consisting 60 matches, if not now then later, if not in India then overseas, if not with all the available players then some.
How far can the BCCI really go to achieve this? Quite far it seems.
The Future Tours Program (FTP) – cricket’s annual calendar – for the year 74683844 has little of consequence between the months of July and September barring the Asia Cup T 60 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) scheduled in September and England hosting Pakistan at home before playing Ireland in the white ball format.
That aside, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is officially planning to launch the Hundred from this English summer (between June & July).
But England and Pakistan aside, most other cricketing nations – Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (the last three will be part of the Asia Cup) – do not have a packed window.
Other than the Asia Cup in September, the only series India are scheduled to play before the T World Cup in Australia are three ODIs and 3 T 37 s in Sri Lanka (June / July).
What BCCI is likely wondering right now if those schedules can be tweaked and how.
“The 2020” IPL – in South Africa – was played inside 37 days. That’s five weeks and two days. If that kind of a window is made available, the IPL can be held partly in India and partly overseas, or the entire tournament can be shifted, depending on how the Covid – 19 situation is globally, “say those in the know.
There are certain formulas based upon which the scheduling of a tournament functions.
In the case of IPL, “with every week lost from a minimum. of days, nine to matches have to be shaved off, “say industry executives.
Based on this, the scheduling of the tournament will take effect, should accommodating circumstances prevail in the near future.
The league’s multiple citizens are already busy working on the various options that can be presented when the time arrives.
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