BCCI vice -president Rajiv Shukla said on Saturday that the board officials and IPL Governing Council will discuss the best possible program to complete the suspended T20 league after the announcement of immediate ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Sunday. The board was forced to suspend the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday, 16 matches remaining, as the India-Pakistan border struggle threatened to grow in a fully developed war after the Pahgam terror attack and the subsequent operation vermilion of India.
“The war is closed. In the new position, the BCCI office carriers, officers and IPL Governing Council, tomorrow (Sunday) will discuss the matter and take a call. We will see that the best program could be to complete the tournament,” Shukla told PTI video.
It was estimated that the league could be shifted to southern Indian cities Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, but Shukla said that such an option was probably relevant in the scenario of a constant military conflict.
“This was an option when the war was going on. There are many options that have been discussed. The ceasefire has been announced, give us some time, we will discuss and then only a decision will be taken,” Shukla said.
A total of 12 league stage matches and four play-off stage matches can be played in the tournament.
A top IPL source, which understands the movement of broadcaster and production teams, indicated that there is a high probability that the matches will not lose share in many places, but perhaps the picturesque Dharmasala will be removed from the roster when resumed.
“The broadcasters initially asked their production unit to stay back in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, when the military crisis was deepening. But after the declaration of ceasefire, the crew has been directed to stay in all original places.
The source said, “There is an opportunity to save the Dharamasala game, which can be re -determined elsewhere, places like Kolkata can maintain their matches,” the source said.
The match between the Punjab Kings and Delhi capitals in Dharmasala on Thursday was left to the midway due to the struggle.
With the closure of Dharamasala Airport, players and assistant employees of both teams traveled to Jalandhar by bus and then boarded a train for Delhi.
Of the 12 league matches, Ahmedabad is scheduled to host three matches, while Lucknow and Bengaluru have two matches to host two matches.
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Jaipur have one match.
It remains to be seen whether the match of Dharmasala has resumed, from where it stopped or is played from the beginning.
The play-off will be held in Hyderabad and Kolkata. The iconic Eden Gardens were about to host the title clash.
Most foreign recruits, who compete in the league for various teams, have already left the country.
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