Coronavirus pandemic: BCCI provides update on IPL 2020's possible future amid COVID-19 lockdown

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided an update on the possible future of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday (March 30).

The country's cricketing body claimed that no final decision has been made on the fate as the board is still monitoring the situation.

"No decision has been taken on IPL yet, we are closely monitoring the situation, and we will take a call accordingly," sources within the BCCI told ANI.

Earlier in this month, BCCI decided to suspend IPL 2020 till April 15, 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in India.

"The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience," the BCCI had said in an official statement.

On March 23, reports suggested that the country's cricketing governing body is also considering to further delay the league.

The virus has brought all sports activities to a halt and players are practising social distancing and self-isolation during the pandemic. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the governments all around are urging people to stay at home.

The opening match of this year's IPL was supposed to be played between the most successful teams of IPL - defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29.

The rapid spread of Coronavirus worldwide has started seeing its serious impacts. India has imposed a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to combat the spread of novel coronavirus. 

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 1024 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in the country and 27 fatalities have been reported.