The fourth edition of the Everest Premier League (EPL) — the foremost franchise T20 tournament of the Himalayan cricketing nation — has been postponed after its government came up with a directive to avoid mass gatherings amid the growing fears of the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Cases of coronavirus have also been reported from Nepal which shares a border with China, the country of the deadly virus’ origin. Over 3,000 people have died of the virus worldwide while several thousands have been confirmed positive.

The fourth edition of the EPL has now been postponed more than once. It was originally scheduled to be held between December 8 and 29 last year but was deferred to a February 29 beginning that would continue till March 14 (till March 28). And now, it has been postponed again because of the health scare.

The tournament was initially set to feature the likes of Chris Gayle, Mohammad Shahzad and local hero Sandeep Lamichhane. But the organisers announced in a statement that it would be rescheduled again for “the closest possible time whenever the situation is favourable,” said an ESPNcricinfo report. The tournament features six teams and was supposed to see 19 matches in all.

“We are naturally all sad at today’s announcement of having to temporarily postpone the 2020 EPL, but we simply have to put the health and well-being of all Nepalis and our overseas players before everything else,” Aamir Akhtar, the tournament’s managing director, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

EPL – The second tournament to fall victim

As a safeguard against the coronavirus threat, Nepal’s health ministry has advised people to avoid major gatherings to minimise the risk of community spread. Recently, a women’s series in Thailand was cancelled because of coronavirus

The EPL became the second cricket tournament to fall victim to the coronavirus threat. Recently, Thailand cancelled a women’s quadrangular limited-over series that was supposed to feature the Netherlands, Ireland and Zimbabwe, because of coronavirus.

In Nepal’s neighbouring India and Pakistan, however, no directive has been issued over the Indian Premier League (scheduled to start in March-end) and Pakistan Super League (ongoing) yet.