No domestic cricket likely until December due to COVID-19
Xtra Time Web Desk: One of the key agenda of the BCCI Apex Council meeting held on Friday by teleconferencing was to discuss about the start of domestic cricket in the country. It is learnt that the Apex Council members have decided that there will be no cricket until December. Although the decision is not final but the rising coronavirus cases in the country may push the domestic cricket start to December.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is already planning to host the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) this year in UAE as the pandemic situation does not seem to be under control. The board is awaiting the International Cricket Council’s official announcement about the postponement of the T20 World Cup in Australia scheduled to take place in October. The board has already zeroes in on tentative dates for the cash rich league from September 26-November 08.
As far as domestic cricket is concerned, the BCCI is in no hurry. The primary reason is to safeguard the health safety of the cricketers and all stakeholders. It is very unlikely the Ranji Trophy season this will begin before December. Other age group events also would not start anytime soon. Tournaments like Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and Challengers series will be scrapped and age-group tournaments too will take a major hit this season.
As far as Team India’s international schedule is concerned, already the tour of England to India is cancelled. It means Virat Kohli and his team’s first international fixtures after the COVID-19 break will be against Australia later this year.
