Organisers of the Caribbean Premier League are determined for this year's edition to go ahead as scheduled.
The 2020 CPL is due to be played from 19 August to 26 September. Preventative measures amid the spread of the coronavirus, however, might enforced a delay.
Plans to stage the competition without specators, minus players from overseas or at a ‘social-distancing stadium', however, are afoot.
“It's good that the Caribbean has locked down early, and it hasn't been hit in the same way as the United Kingdom, for example. We're looking at different permutations in terms of what could or couldn't happen, but the lucky thing is that we've got a bit of time – we don't have to force a decision,” West Indies all-rounder and Jamaica Tallawahs star Andre Russell told ESPNcricinfo.
“The player side is the important bit. It could be that CPL is played without international players this year, and there's enough Caribbean talent to play without if we have to – that's not our preferred option, but it's doable.
“I don't think there's any question that we'll be able to play it. We're only going to play if it's safe to do so, but we've been approached by a lot of the countries who want it to happen. The reason for that is that it's a big sporting event, and it could act as a sign or a marker that the Caribbean is open for business again.”
Russell in the IPL
This year's edition of the Indian Premier League, meanwhile, has been suspended indefinitely. Russell was due to join Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins and several other stars from abroad at the Kolkata Knight Riders at the 2020 IPL.
“While I know the Board of Control for Cricket in India is all-powerful in these things, there has to be some sensible consideration around what players and other leagues are doing,” he added.
“I think IPL would want all the West Indian players to be playing in their tournament – it wouldn't make sense for them to play at the same time as CPL when a lot of their stars are playing with us. That would defeat the objective. I don't think they need to do that, either. They can figure out their own window, for sure.”
