BCCI sends acceptance letter to Emirates Cricket Board to host IPL 2020

The 2020 edition of IPL will start on September 19 in the UAE and continue till November 8.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel on Sunday confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sent the acceptance letter to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

“Yes, we have sent the acceptance letter to the ECB and both the boards will be working together from now on to stage the tournament,” Khaleej Times quoted Patel as saying.

According to the newspaper, ECB had sent the proposal to the BCCI in April to host the 13th edition of the IPL, which was originally scheduled to commence on March 29 in India. However, the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, Patel said that the eight IPL franchises — Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore — will hold their respective pre-tournament training camps in the UAE.

He said that the training camps will be held in the UAE in a bio-secure environment and “the teams need at least three to four weeks to prepare for the tournament”.

Earlier on Friday, Patel confirmed that the 2020 edition of IPL will commence on September 19 in the UAE and continue till November 8.

“The fans will enjoy the full tournament from September 19 to November 8 and further course of action will be discussed with the franchises in the Governing Council meeting,” he told ANI.

The postponement of this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup by the International Cricket Council (ICC) provided the much-needed window to stage this year’s IPL.

 

Suresh Raina urges fans not to spread misinformation about coronavirus

Earlier, India opener and Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma had posted a video on his social media handles.

Suresh Raina on Monday cautioned against spreading deception identified with coronavirus and to follow wellbeing warnings. The batsman is relied upon to be seen next in the deferred 2020 period of the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings.

“It’s significant that we comprehend the need of social segregation to break the chain, don’t spread data from inconsistent sources, don’t overlook the wellbeing warnings and without a doubt follow the cleanliness measures.#coronavirus” he tweeted.

CSK were booked to confront Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29 in the opening match of the IPL. In any case, the rising worry over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the season being delayed to April 15. Leading group of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly said that a choice on whether the matches will be held in void arenas or the new calendar can be chosen after the circumstance is evaluated after April 15.

Prior, India opener and Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma had posted a video on his web based life handles.

“Most recent couple of weeks have been extreme for us all and the world has ground to a halt which is dismal to see. The main way we can come to commonality is by us all meeting up. Also, we can do this by being somewhat shrewd, somewhat proactive, knowing our environment and as and when we get any indications illuminate your closest clinical specialists,” said Rohit in the video.

The legislatures across different states in the nation have prescribed individuals to follow social separating separated from requesting terminations of schools, shopping centers, film lobbies in their offer to stay away from get-togethers.

“This is on the grounds that we as a whole need our children to go to the school, we need to go to the shopping centers and we as a whole need to watch films in the theaters,” said the Indian opener.

World’s 2020 oil demand growth virtually eliminated over COVID-19: OPEC

OPEC reduced the growth in world demand for oil from 990,000 barrels per day to 60,000 bpd, a 93 per cent drop.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has announced that there would be practically no increase in the worldwide consumption of crude oil in 2020 due to the coronavirus impact on the global economy.

In its monthly report published on Wednesday, OPEC reduced the growth in world demand for oil from 990,000 barrels per day to 60,000 bpd, a 93 per cent drop, Efe news reported.

It calculated that the volume of crude that the world will need from the 13 cartel partners will be reduced this year by 5.8 per cent – or 1.73 million bpd – compared with 2019 to 28.18 million bpd.

“Following a considerably weaker economic growth for 2H19 in Japan, Euro-zone and in India, the COVID-19 related developments necessitated a further downward revision of the 2020 GDP growth forecast to 2.4 per cent from 3.0 per cent forecast in the previous month. This compares to a 2019 GDP growth estimate of 2.9 per cent… Further downside risks to the world economy remains given the uncertainty regarding the magnitude of COVID-19 related impacts,” said OPEC in the report.

The estimates were based on the “adverse effects” that the epidemic have already had on transportation and on the industrial use of fuel in China, as well as on petroleum consumption in other regions hit by the coronavirus, including Japan, South Korea, Europe and the Middle East.

At this point, OPEC calculates that this year the total demand for crude will not exceed, in contrast to its earlier estimates, the psychological barrier of 100 million bpd, but rather will remain at an average of 99.73 million bpd provided that the world recovers relatively quickly from the crisis surrounding the spread of the virus.

Visa curbs over Covid-19 force foreign players to miss IPL till April 15

India has reported 60 positive cases in the outbreak which has led to over 4,000 deaths globally.

No foreign player will be available for this year’s IPL till April 15 due to visa restrictions imposed by the government to contain the novel coronavirus threat, a top BCCI source told PTI on Thursday, casting fresh doubts on the fate of the event.

“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,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The government issued fresh advisory with a ban on all existing foreign visas, except a few categories like diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in the wake of new positive cases of novel coronavirus in the country.

India has reported 60 positive cases in the outbreak which has led to over 4,000 deaths globally.

The fate of the IPL itself will be decided on March 14 at the event’s Governing Council meeting in Mumbai.

“All decisions will be taken by the GC in Mumbai,” the source said.

Having the IPL, starting March 29, played in empty stadiums is an option being explored.

Sharing Dhoni’s secrets with Australia? Naah, says CSK coach Mike Hussey

Hussey is confident that Australia will have their plans in place for the former India captain MS Dhoni.

Michael Hussey feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni does not have “too many weaknesses” but even if he has, the Chennai Super Kings batting coach wouldn’t share them with in-form Australia ahead of their World Cup clash on Sunday.

Having crushed Afghanistan and put up an inspirational performance against a rampaging West Indies, Australia are expected to be more than a handful for India when the two teams square off at the Oval.

Hussey has played alongside Dhoni at CSK and as coach, watched him from close quarters in the franchise.

So, will Hussey share his insights on Dhoni with the Australian coaching team?

“No chance. There aren’t too many weaknesses there anyway,” the former Australia batsman let out a chuckle as he spoke to PTI in an exclusive interview.

However, Michael Hussey is confident that Australia will have their plans in place for the former India captain.

“All the teams do very thorough analysis on all the players so I am sure that they will have their plans for MSD and all the Indian players.”

Asked what makes Dhoni tick when he is just a month short of 38, Hussey said the it’s the legend’s awareness of his strengths.

“He is a great competitor and keeps his composure better than anyone especially under pressure. He is a very smart player, who is calculating. He knows his strengths and always sticks to them,” said the member of the 2007 World Cup-winning Australian team.

Dhoni’s strike-rate has been an issue for some time but Hussey doesn’t find anything wrong with his strategy of taking some time before hitting the finisher mode.

“Not only does he (Dhoni) play according to the situation of the game but also likes to give himself some time at the start of his innings to get settled. Dhoni likes to take the responsibility of being there at the end to finish off the innings or the game.”

He feels that Dhoni’s mere presence and ability to take the game deep will keep the opposition on its edge.

Business Standard