New Delhi: The Government of India on Thursday advised the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) to not conduct Indian Premier League, which is slated to start from March 2019, amid coronavirus concerns. However, they also added that the final decision with respect to the same lies with the organisers.
"I think it is for the organisers to decide whether to go ahead with it or not. Our advice would be to not do it at this time but if they want to go ahead, it is their decision," Dammu Ravi, additional Secretary, MEA, said during a press briefing here on Thursday.
The development comes a day after the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a global pandemic, and against the backdrop of the Central government suspending all visas to April 15 as part of the measures to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.
The 13th edition of IPL is scheduled to commence from March 29, with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings meeting at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the first match.
Earlier in the day, sources within the IPL's governing council had said that the foreign players would not be available for the tournament due to the visa restrictions.
