Scrapping of Asia Cup in September is best possible option for IPL
new delhi: The currently suspended Indian Premier League’s 16 remaining games can be completed during a 10-12 day window in September as the Asia Cup is now uncertain due to the rising armed hostilities between India and Pakistan.
It would be a miracle if the Asia Cup, which is supposed to be hosted by India (at a supposedly neutral venue), goes ahead given the raging conflict which was triggered by the killing of 26 people in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The nearly non-existent sporting ties are unlikely to resume at any level till tensions ease. The Asia Cup was given a 19-day window in September where at least two Indo-Pak matches were to take place apart from the possibility of a final clash between the bitter rivals which would have assured the broadcasters of high advertising revenue.
“It is extremely bad optics if cricket continues when there is a possibility of war with a rogue nation (Pakistan). Sports can continue when everything is normal. Plus it is very natural for foreign players and coaches to be wary and wanting to return home,” a senior BCCI official said after the league was suspended indefinitely on Friday.
Incidentally, the Asian Cricket Council is now headed by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the onus will be on him to deal with financial losses that the Asia Cup cancellation would cause. It is understood that the BCCI top brass’ decision to suspend the league was well thought out call as only a handful of matches are left which can be completed in a 10-day window with possible double-headers.
Options for BCCI?
The IPL has a dedicated window from March end to May end during which no international cricket is scheduled allowing the best of world cricket to ply their trade in the league. Now that the schedule has gone haywire, the BCCI will have to explore the available options. The Indian team will be touring England from first week of June to first week of August and that schedule cannot be changed.
The only period that looks good right now is between the second and fourth weeks of September where the BCCI can also negotiate with the various cricket boards to allow their players (except for freelancers who don’t need permission) to come back and complete the assignment.
Why not August?
In August, India have a six-match white-ball away series against Bangladesh which could have been stalled
for the IPL. However, ECB’s ‘The Hundred’ will be played between August 5 to 31 where most of the top T20 players, who also play in IPL, will be taking part. Most IPL franchise owners like Reliance and RPSG group have bought stakes in ‘The Hundred’. Also Australia will be hosting South Africa for a white-ball series.
