CSK CEO hopes foreign players would be able to make it to IPL this year

Viswanathan said that the situation could change if the BCCI gets special permission from the government, which looks highly unlikely in the present context. Reacting to the health ministry’s advisory, Viswanathan said that most of the overseas players have been booked with business visas and so it will be impossible for them to join their sides until April 15, the date when the Health ministry imposed restrictions expire.

“Most of the players are travelling with business visas and that is how they come and play in the IPL. So, it will be impossible for them to join the teams unless the BCCI gets special permission. As of now, it is not possible as the diktat is pretty clear,” said Kasi Viswanathan.

He added, “The BCCI needs to sit down with the government and I mean both the Central and the State Governments across the board and get to some understanding on how they need to go forward. Unless special permission is given, it will not be possible for foreign players to join the teams”

The government has made it clear to the BCCI that any sporting event that has to be held amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will have to be behind closed doors and the franchises are okay with the idea of the IPL being held with empty stands. But they wish for their foreign players to be made available from the start of the season. An official of one of the franchises said that with the government making its stance clear and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the coronavirus outbreak a “pandemic”, there is no other option than to play the match behind closed doors.

“See, the gate money is no issue as these things are insured. As for the fans, it is disappointing, but we don’t really have much of an option as we have to abide by the diktat of the central government and even WHO has declared the outbreak a “pandemic”.

“This makes it clear that if we have to have an IPL this year, it has to be behind closed doors. So now, would we rather want an IPL where fans can watch the games on television or we don’t want an IPL in 2020? ” the official said.