Ben Stokes still preparing for IPL despite India lockdown

London: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has said that he is preparing for his return to competitive cricket at the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

IPL, which was supposed to start from March 29, has been suspended till April 15 and with Indian government announcing a three-week lockdown, the chances of league getting underway next month look grim.

“At the moment my next competitive cricket is going to be in the IPL,” Stokes told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I have to get my head round that I am playing even though in the back of my mind I know I am probably not. I have to build up and get myself physically in a position that if it does happen, I am good to go.

“I cannot take three weeks off and expect the body to be ready for 20 April because it doesn’t work like that. It might happen and if it does, I don’t want to be behind,” he added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) believes that it can still pull off the IPL if things come under control by April end and the first game is played by the first week of May.

Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that while it is presently very difficult to predict the fate of the IPL, the board can still conduct the league taking a cue from the pattern that was followed when the tournament was taken out to South Africa. But for that, the first match must be played by the first week of May. IANS

Also Read: Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg picks Ben Stokes over Hardik Pandya in his World XI

Also Watch: Coronavirus update: Buddhist Monastery in Naharkatika take extra prevention measures