Avoid Huge Gathering Amid Covid-19 Threat

Online Desk, Kolkata : Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that IPL 2020 can go if necessary but avoid huge gathering amid COVID-19 threats. According to him “We are not stopping the game. We are just telling to ensure that there is no mass gathering .Precaution step is very important for the health of the country”.

Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday clarified that there is no restrictions on playing but the guidelines must be followed. Following the outbreak of coronavirus, the Union sports & youth affairs has issued two advisories as precautionary measures to avoid the disease.

Sharing the two advisories, Rijiju tweeted on Thursday: “There are many confusions amongst the athletes at this moment. Two advisories are issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for matches abroad and the domestic.”

There are many confusions amongst the athletes at this moment. Two Advisories are issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for matches abroad and the domestic. There's no restrictions on playing but guidelines to be followed strictly in the larger interest of health. pic.twitter.com/RoohGcsOma

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) March 12, 2020

The question of IPL 2020 getting cancelled arises as many major sporting events are getting cancelled globally due to coronavirus. National Basketball Association (NBA) has also suspended its season after a player tested positive for coronavirus.

The question of IPL getting cancelled arises as many major sporting events are getting cancelled globally due to coronavirus. National Basketball Association (NBA) has also suspended its season after a player tested positive for coronavirus.

In fact, experts say that postponing the tournament looks difficult as the cricket annual calendar will not again have a clear six to seven weeks window that the IPL requires.

Also, no foreign players will be available until April 15 due to visa restrictions.

In case of cancellation, there is a lot at stake.

Read Also : Global Markets Shades overs Corona Pandemic

Along with the BCCI, a lot is riding on IPL for Star TV which has paid Rs 16,000 crore for the media and digital rights for five years and needs to recoup at least 20 percent of that amount every season of IPL.

Franchises also spend good amounts on players, support teams, logistics among others. All of this could cost around Rs 300-500 crore and out of this Rs 100 to Rs 300 crore is recovered from sponsors for a team. The remaining amount comes from ticketing revenue and share of central broadcast revenues.

Ticketing revenue is about Rs 400 crore, according to estimates from past data. Plus, there is about Rs 50 crore that comes from the fan parks.

However, IPL 2020 which is slated to start from March 29, its fate remains unknown as of now

(With Inputs Moneycontrol.com )