IPL 2020 has been postponed for an indefinite period due to the novel COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still hopeful to organise the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in this calendar year, the upcoming international schedule of England tour of India can get hurt.
The IPL 2020 was initially scheduled to run from 29th March to 24th May 2020. But the dominant coronavirus has forced to postpone the tournament, and there is still no assurance to organise the IPL 13 in this year. However, the BCCI and IPL committee are trying hard and still hopeful to organise the IPL 13 later this year.
IPL 2020 can be organised in this September-October
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the fate of Asia Cup 2020 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 are doubtful at the present moment. Asia Cup 2020 has been scheduled to be played in this September, just around a month ahead of the beginning of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020, and the venue of the forthcoming T20 Asia Cup is yet to be confirmed. On the other hand, Australia will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 from 18th October to 15th November 2020.
But while both these international cricket tournaments are still doubtful, the BCCI is eyeing to utilise these windows for the IPL 2020. However, at first, India needs to control the coronavirus pandemic along with global improvement in the battle against this novel virus.
On the other hand, England has the schedule to tour in India in the upcoming season. Actually, they will tour in India for twice, first in September-October to play the three-match ODI and three-match T20I series, and then they will travel again in this Asian country in January 2021 for the five-match Test series. While the ODI series will be the part of the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League (2020-22), the Test series will be the part of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (2019-21).
But if the BCCI later decides to organise the IPL 2020 in September-October in the absence of international tournaments, England’s tour of India for the limited-overs series will be in jeopardy.
The Daily Mail, British daily newspaper, has recently claimed that the rescheduling of the IPL 2020 can open up an uncertain future of England’s limited-overs series against the hosts India. However, the newspaper has also confirmed that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the BCCI haven’t discussed this yet.