Cancelling IPL may cost Indian Cricket - half a billion dollars.

The money-spinning Indian Premier League has been postponed this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic and scrapping it could cost more than $530 Million to Indian Cricket.

A top official said that although the cancellation of IPL this season could mean a huge financial hit for the BCCI, the world's richest T20 league is not planning on cutting the players' pay. As said by Arun Dhumal, BCCI treasurer, "The BCCI is looking at a big revenue loss. In case the IPL does not take place, the loss could be close to 40 Billion Rupees ($530 Million) or even more. We are not sure whether we will be able to have it this year." 

Like other cricketing nations, India too wants to return to competitive international cricket but will adhere to the government's decisions. IPL generates the majority of revenue for BCCI at more than $11 billion per year. BCCI cancelled the South Africa One Day International series in March. 

Duff and Phelps's financial consultancy valued IPL at $6.7 billion, last year. Indian broadcaster Star Sports reportedly targeted revenue of $400 million from 2020 season alone and which has paid $220 million for TV rights up-to 2022. Dhumal said," We will only be able to figure out the exact revenue loss once we are sure of how many games we have lost." 

On financial cost-cutting Dhumal hoped to avoid any pay cuts for players, he said, "that would be the last thing that we would want to do at our end, that is why we are working how much is the loss finally we have to pay. So once we are able to assess that, then we might consider it, but it will be the last thing on our agenda."