The fate of this year’s IPL will be up for discussion when the tournament’s governing council meets on March 14.

Sporting events worldwide are under a cloud, with some tournaments being played behind closed doors, while some others have been cancelled altogether, in the wake of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, which is spreading its wings across the globe.

With India’s government suspending visas, with the exception of certain types, such as diplomatic, official and a few others, the participation of foreign players remains under a cloud.

Moreover, the Indian government has already issued an advisory urging people to avoid mass gatherings, of which the IPL is a kind. Nonetheless, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is still awaiting guidance from the government before arriving at a decision to postpone the tournament or play it behind closed doors.

As things stand, India’s three-match ODI series against South Africa, which begins on Thursday, remains unaffected, but the situation continues to be carefully monitored nevertheless. Italy, which is one of the more gravely affected countries, had Serie A matches behind closed doors. That was until the tournament was suspended until April 3. North America’s National Basketball Association abruptly suspended its already underway season after a player tested positive for the virus. That decision came shortly after the Golden State Warriors barred fans from attending their home games.

NEWS: Precautions against Coronavirus (COVID-19) during South Africa’s tour of India, 2020

More details here https://t.co/lMQxmnn2OR pic.twitter.com/GPcgzlCBWZ

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 11, 2020

The BCCI, for its part, said that it is following the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on personal hygiene and quarantining those who test positive. The board has issued a long list of dos and don’ts to all parties involved in the South Africa ODIs.