With the coronavirus pandemic showing absolutely no signs of improvement, the possibilities of a resumption of cricket any time soon is looking enormously bleak. As things stand, cricket events around the world are currently suspended. Every major country has called off its international and domestic fixtures in the wake of the outbreak.
The cricket fraternity is now desperately waiting for things to improve so that action finally resumes. And former England skipper Kevin Pietersen thinks Indian Premier League (IPL) should start the much-awaited cricket season. The legendary batsman firmly insisted that the 13th edition of the league should take place and could be ended up in a maximum of four weeks.
IPL 2020 was scheduled to start from March 29, but due to the spread of the coronavirus, the tournament has been postponed at least mid-April. As the COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country, BCCI has provided no more updates regarding the fate of the league.
Numerous media reports suggest that the IPL might be canceled this year if things do not improve soon, while a couple of stories suggest that the BCCI might hold the tournament later this year. Kevin Pietersen, on his part, thinks that IPL should be played and should be conducted at three safe venues and behind closed doors in the middle of the spread of the deadly disease. He also said that the players around the world are desperate to play the IPL.
“Let’s say July-August is the earliest, I do truly believe the IPL should happen,” Kevin Pietersen said on Star Sports Cricket Connected before adding: “I do believe it is the kick-start to the cricket season. I think each and every single player around the world is desperate to play the IPL.
“There might be a way in which to get some money into the franchises into the economy by having a situation where you utilize perhaps three venues which are near to fans and the players can still go out and play the tournament in three weeks or four weeks.”
“So it’s a more condensed competition in 3 locations, which we understand are safe, which we know are safe.
“I do not think the fans need to be risked in this situation I think the fans need to understand they can’t watch a live game at the moment and they may not be able to watch a live game for the foreseeable future [But] what would you guys offer right now, to watch Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings right now?” he added.
