In an effort to fight against the novel coronavirus, the government of India on Wednesday issued a new visa advisory for the foreign nationals intending to travel to India.
As India has imposed restriction on all existing foreign visas, it has now become almost impossible for overseas players to take part in the upcoming Indian Premier League before April 15, 2020.
According to the Press Trust of India, a top BCCI official said on conditions of anonymity, “The foreign players who play in the IPL come under the Business visa category. As per the government’s directive, they can’t come till April 15.”
This means 60 overseas players contracted by eight different franchises will not feature in the first leg of the Indian Premier League tournament.
On the other hand, the Indian Premier League governing council announced that it would organise a meeting on March 14 to discuss the future of the 13th edition of the IPL which is scheduled to commence on March 29.
According to the Union Health Ministry of India, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has jumped to 74 which has forced various sporting leagues to either postpone competitions or play behind the closed doors.
Passengers at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi, India, 12 March 2020. Source: AAP
Cricket series to be played behind closed doors
In a statement issued by the BCCI said, “After discussing with the government, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now decided to organise the remaining two One Day International matches between India and South Africa without public gathering, including spectators.”
“The World Health Organisation on Wednesday assessed that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. The BCCI is making every effort for compliance with the regulatory bodies of Government of India and ensures the safety of our athletes and valued fans,” reads the BCCI release.
The three-match ODI series between Australia and New Zealand was also impacted by the ongoing coronavirus concerns. The match will go on as per the schedule, but fans will not be admitted into the venue, said Cricket Australia in a statement on Friday.
