BCCI have decided to scrap the opening ceremony from the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League. The apex cricket body has the decision as they felt that the flamboyant ceremonies are consuming a heavy amount and are nothing but a waste of money. In these opening events, several Bollywood actors and singers perform on the eve of the cash-rich league. However, the Indian cricket board felt that these events are not attracting enough audience and hence should be scrapped. This will be the second continuous time when the tournament will not witness a grand opening. Earlier this year, the board decided to donate the allocated fund to the families of CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama attack and the opening event was called off. IPL 2020: BCCI to Introduce Extra ‘No Ball’ Umpire in Indian Premier League, ‘Power Player’ Plan Shelved.

“They are a waste of money. Fans don’t seem to be interested, and the performers have to be paid a lot.” said a BCCI official as per quoted by the Indian Express. In the past, along with Bollywood celebrities, many International stars like Pitbull and Akon have also graced the stage in these ceremonies. The upcoming IPL will be the 13th season of the mega tournament. IPL 2020: Players Auction for Indian Premier League 13 To Be Held in Kolkata on December 19, Say Reports.

 Apart from the scrapping of the opening ceremonies, IPL has also launched a ‘Power Player’ rule in which a player, who was not the part of the original playing XI, can take the field after the loss of a wicket or conclusion of an over. The Indian Premier League is the richest T20 league around the world and many cricketers from around the world aim to feature in the tournament. The auction for the 2020 IPL will take place on December 19 in Kolkata. The tournament will be crucial as the T20 World Cup will be played just a few months after the tournament and the players will have a great opportunity to polish their skills.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 06, 2019 01:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).