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IPL can’t happen without foreign players: KXIP co-owner Wadia
With some experts pointing that the pandemic in India is likely to peak in July-August, Wadia believes it‘s premature to talk about IPL.
The IPL is a tournament with global appeal and it does not make sense to host it without foreign stars, says Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia. Wadia feels it’s too early for the BCCI to decide on the fate of the T20 league, given the unpredictability caused by Covid-19 pandemic.
The BCCI is looking at the September-October window for hosting the IPL, which has been postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic. The possibility of the conducting the league increases significantly if the T20 World Cup doesn’t go ahead as scheduled in October-November in Australia.
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Franchisees have expressed mixed opinions on how they would want the T20 event to be organised this year with Rajasthan Royals proposing an IPL of only Indian players, given the travel restrictions in place. Three-time champions Chennai Super Kings have already rejected Royals’ idea and now Kings XI Punjab echo the same sentiment.
“IPL is an international tournament made by Indians. It is the premier cricketing event in the world; therefore, it needs an international platform and international stars,” Wadia told PTI.
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“But it remains to be seen which of the foreign players are allowed to travel at that time (considering the restrictions). I feel there are too many variables for the BCCI at the moment to even have a calculated guess on when it might happen. What if tomorrow the cases keep rising, what happens then? It would be unwise to think of anything other than Covid-19 for the moment.”
With some experts pointing that the pandemic is likely to peak in India in July-August, Wadia believes it‘s premature to talk about IPL.
“The most important thing for all of us is to deal with the current situation. It could last another month or two, may be more. Once the virus diminishes, then we can have more clarity on when the IPL can be held and where it can be held,” Wadia added.
“I am sure the Indian audience will happy to see the IPL after what we have been through. Football in Germany has already started and EPL is starting soon but they have already peaked while we have not. I see the possibility of IPL happening but it is all about combatting the virus for the next two months at least.”
