BCCI might be forced to scrap entire 2020-21 Indian domestic season due to COVID-19?

A truncated Indian domestic cricket season, which was expected to begin later this year, is all set to be delayed even furr due to coronavirus crisis in country. Instead of usual October start, season was expected to launch on vember 19 with Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. Ratnakar Shetty, former general manr of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), recently interacted with ESPNCricinfo to give his take on matter.

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India’s 2020-21 Ranji Trophy season likely to be cancelled

Ratnakar Shetty said that ongoing coronavirus crisis might prompt BCCI to furr delay launch date of India’s domestic season to eir mid-December or by January. He added that Indian board will “t spare any effort” in ir attempts to conduct season, even though if it means cutting down on some tournaments. Ratnakar Shetty also said that strength of Indian cricket lies with BCCI’s high-profile annual domestic events like Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as y are crucial in player’s preparation for global events like ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Ar BCCI official, while speaking with same portal, even mulled at possibility of entire 2020-21 season getting cancelled altoger. official said that while BCCI is trying to get some domestic cricket on course, it is likely that re will be cricket at all due to a continuous rise of coronavirus cases in country. If situation improves in country by end of year, a truncated home season might begin in eir December or by January 2021.

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BCCI’s take on IPL 2020

Ranji Trophy and or domestic tournaments aside, BCCI is currently focused upon launch of much-awaited Indian Premier League 2020 (IPL 2020) season. IPL 2020 was earlier scheduled to commence in March this year but a nationwide lockdown enforced a shift in venue and a delay by five-and-a-half-months. Indian T20 carnival will w be played between September 19 and vember 10 across three venues in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

IPL 2020 schedule anunced by BCCI

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Im source: BCCI Domestic Twitter