It is premature to talk about resumption of cricket but India's tour of Australia later this year is likely to go ahead, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said on Friday, downplaying the logistical issues likely to arise because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure that the high-profile tour, starting in October, goes on as scheduled, Dhumal said quarantining of Indian players upon their arrival is a possibility even though it is not feasible before every overseas assignment. "You can't be sure of the situation prevailing at that point of time. As of now the Australia tour is on because nobody has called off that tour and same for T20 World Cup," Dhumal told PTI.

"The need for quarantine ahead of Australia tour only arises if the preceding T20 World Cup doesn't take place. If the World Cup happens, then players would have already completed their quarantine." Dhumal said isolation before the start of the tour can only be a one-off. "If quarantine becomes a norm before every tour then it would be difficult to organise games," he said.

Dhumal then went on to list the bigger logistical challenge that awaits Australia -- the T20 World Cup in October-November."...would it be possible for Australia to have so many teams (16) coming in and quarantining for two weeks? Players will be out of cricket for so long and further two weeks of quarantine and then straightaway to go into T20 World Cup. Who would be interested? So there is no clarity. "Once the situation improves and the lockdown ends, then we will see keeping the safety and health of our players in mind as that is paramount," said Dhumal.

India are scheduled to play four Tests Down Under with Cricket Australia considering an additional one. Dhumal said the five-Test series idea was discussed before the lockdown but Cricket Australia could now change its mind considering the severe financial impact COVID-19 has had on the board. If India tour doesn't take place, Cricket Australia could lose as much as 300 million Australian dollars. "The India-Australia tour is more likely to happen because it is further away and logistically it easier to organise. We will have to see what government guidelines are at that point (both India and Australian government).

"How will the team travel? There is no clarity on international travel and if we can get an exemption. We dont' know as of now. The picture is ho hazy that we can't decide anything," said Dhumal. On Cricket Australia's idea of an additional Test, Dhumal said:"As far as the fifth Test goes, that discussion happened before the lockdown. When cricket resumes, (we will see) whether any country would like to host an additional Test or have two T20s instead, which is likely to generate more revenues.

"There is a possibility that request comes from Cricket Australia only." Former Pakistan cricketers, including Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq, have called for resumption of Indo-Pak cricket as the world deals with the outbreak. Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has also proposed an Indo-Pak Test series later in the year.

Dhumal rejected all such talk. "People are talking about unthinkable things right now...They can think whatever they want to but it is for the board to decide.

"In an ideal situation, we would want to take Test cricket to a different level but given the situation, we are not even sure when T20s and ODIs can take place next," he said.

Dhumal said if the IPL doesn't take place, the board will take a hit of Rs 4000 crore. "If IPL doesn't take place the revenue loss will be Rs 4000 crore. In case, we lose the home season also, that will also be a substantial amount. BCCI is also facing huge losses. If IPL doesn't happen then we will be in a very big problem," said Dhumal. If the T20 World Cup doesn't take place in October-November, staging the IPL is a possibility in that window.

"If the situation improves by that time (September-October), we also have think about T20 WC and Asia Cup and accordingly take a call. For a full-fledged IPL to happen, you have to have at least 45-50 days. Whether we get the window, it is still a question mark."

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

India skipper Virat Kohli believes cricket in empty stadiums is a real possibility in a post COVID-19 world and though it is unlikely to have a bearing on the intensity of players, he feels the magic would certainly go missing. Cricket Boards across the globe are exploring the option of resuming the sport in empty stadiums. There is speculation that fans could be kept away from stadiums in a bid to salvage the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is currently under threat due to the global health crisis.

"It's quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don't know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans," Kohli said in Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'. "I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate," he added.

Kohli said the many moments which are created because of the passion brought in by fans, would be missing. "Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created. "We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by," he said.

Cricketers such as Ben Stokes, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Pat Cummins have backed the idea of playing behind closed doors. However, legendary Australian Allan Border has said it would defy belief to host a World Cup without spectators.

Another Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and some other cricketers have also expressed similar sentiments.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

It's here - the World Cup Cricket Finals! If it is anything to go by the Indo-Pak semi-finals, it is going to

In 2010 South Africa became the first African country to host the FIFA soccer World Cup, which is one of the biggest global sporting events on earth. Was it a triumph and what lessons could be drawn?

There are several interesting aspects and facts from India's World Cup journey of how things turned out to be.

Today, the OECD launched the Portuguese version of its Better Life Index in Brazil with football legend Pelé. The Portuguese version is the site’s 6th language edition, enabling the OECD to reach over 240 million Portuguese speakers across the globe.

Amity between old adversaries almost certain to crumble once first ball is bowled

Liverpool fans would have been forgiven for getting a surge of excitement as they saw Dominic Solanke pick up the Golden Ball at the Under 20 World Cup last week, but is it a true indicator of success?

Millions of fans were stressed out not just by the dramatic sporting clashes that went on around the UK yesterday, but also by finding ways to watch them all at the same time.

IAN LADYMAN: In the Brazilian rainforest, the stadium used for England's first game of the 2014 World Cup cost £235million of public money to build.

As the third weekend of Six Nations action draws to a close, Sportsmail's Chris Foy digests the best of the offerings around the grounds...

England midfielder Georgia Stanway had tweeted Glastonbury to ask for England's quarter-final clash with Norway to be made available to festival goers, including her brother.

Big crowds are expected to watch the game at Glastonbury Festival this year after a plea from midfielder Georgia Stanway, whose brother JP (pictured) is among the revellers.

Qatar World Cup officials have asked Glastonbury Festival organisers to help them plan desert camp sites for fans ahead of the 2022 tournament, according to The Mirror.

Gregor Townsend has wrapped a number of his key men up in cotton wool after leaving them out of Scotland's World Cup send-off with Georgia at Murrayfield on Friday night.

Scotland did what they do best at Murrayfield on Friday night - score tries. There were six in total for the home fans to enjoy as a spirited, if error-prone, Georgian side were despatched.

Safe passage through a group that contains the No 2 ranked side in the world in Ireland and hosts Japan is the minimum expected of Gregor Townsend's men. Anything less would be an abject failure.

ROB ROBERTSON IN KOBE: Japan's sensational 19-12 victory over Ireland yesterday has forced the Scots to go chasing a bonus-point victory over Samoa in Kobe tomorrow.

Scotland face a do-or-die scenario in just their second Pool A match of the Rugby World Cup. You can follow all the action from the Kobe Misaki Stadium as it happens HERE. Kick-off 11.15am.

ROB ROBERTSON AT THE KOBE MISAKI STADIUM: Needing a bonus point win to keep their World Cup campaign alive, it took them until five minutes from time before they got that vital fourth try.

With 20 pool games played and 20 more to go, the 2019 Rugby World Cup has already delivered its fair share of shocks, upsets, brilliance and farce. Sportsmail answers 10 key questions.

Scotland play Russia in their penultimate Pool A match requiring a bonus-point victory to keep their hopes of making the quarter-finals alive.

SRU chiefs would be 'furious' if Scotland's crucial World Cup clash with Japan falls foul of Typhoon Hagibis and remain confident the game will be played even if it is delayed by 24 hours.

With the news that two World Cup pool matches have been called off, and another under review, there is some confusion over who will finish where. Sportsmail takes a look at the pool permutations...

COMMENT BY JOHN GREECHAN: This utter farce accurately reflects not merely a shambolic lack of leadership in World Rugby, but Scotland's continued status as an international irrelevance.

With World Cup organisers taking the unprecedented decision to cancel two World Cup matches, Sportsmail answers the key questions on the storm that has rocked the tournament.

SRU chiefs remain on a collision course with World Rugby after the decision on whether Sunday's make-or-break game with Japan goes ahead was delayed until the morning of the match.

The Scots will miss out on the quarter-finals if their match against hosts Japan in Yokohama on Sunday suffers the same fate as England's clash with France and is cancelled.

Sunday's clash, which is effectively a play-off match for a quarter-final place, may still be called off by World Rugby in the aftermath of Super-Typhoon Hagibis, which is set to hit on Saturday.

NIK SIMON IN TOYOTA: The Rugby World Cup's credibility was called into question as feelings grew that rich nations have received favourable treatment as Scotland vent their frustrations.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES AND NIK SIMON: World Rugby are facing possible legal action whatever decision they make regarding Scotland's scheduled Pool A clash with Japan on Sunday.

The captain's run for Japan had an altogether more aquatic feel on Saturday morning as the players waded through a flooded tunnel out onto the pitch. 

NIK SIMON IN YOKOHAMA: World Rugby have given the green light for Japan's game with Scotland to go ahead - with supporters also being allowed to attend the crunch clash.

Gregor Townsend insists Scotland can recover from their World Cup heartache - but knows they must learn from the mistakes that cost them in Japan.

Japan captain Michael Leitch dedicated the team's 28-21 victory over Scotland at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday to those affected by the typhoon which nearly cancelled the match.

CHRIS FOY IN JAPAN: The World Cup quarter-final line-up has now been finalised after hosts Japan booked their place in the knockout stages with a barnstorming victory over Scotland on Sunday.

Greig Laidlaw has admitted he has a decision to make over whether to prolong his Scotland career. The scrum-half's last World Cup ended in agonising defeat to Japan on Sunday.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: England's match against France is in danger of being cancelled, as Typhoon Hagibis has changed course and is now due to tear through Tokyo and Yokohama.

United States take on Netherlands for ultimate glory in the Women's World Cup final in France today. Sportsmail will provide you live updates as it happens from the Lyon Olympic Stadium.

The Dutch, managed by Bert Van Marwijk in 2010, were defeated in the final by Spain following an extra-time winner by midfield maestro Andres Iniesta in South Africa.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Don't we ever learn? The marquee events, the marquee players, don't care about our wish for a northern powerhouse and FIFA will be no different.

Ed Sheeran drowned his sorrows after England's Rugby World Cup final defeat by singing in a Pokémon onsie at a Japanese karaoke bar on Sunday.

Here is a full list of the key dates and places for every match of the Rugby World Cup - plus you can also keep track of the scores and standings throughout the tournament.

Relive the action as England made a spluttering start to their World Cup challenge. Argentina dominated the Pool B clash and were unlucky to lose 13-9.

Stay up to date with all the action Wales kick off their World Cup campaign with a very tough tie against holders - and favorites to top Pool D - South Africa.

Martin Johnson believes England can use the controversy surrounding Mike Tindall and his team-mates' night out in Queenstown to ignite their World Cup campaign.

An 11-minute first-half hat-trick from man of the match Mark Cueto set up England for an impressive if expected demolition of Romania's second team at the Otago Stadium.

Martin Johnson immediately turned his attention to next weekend's World Cup showdown with Scotland after England scored 10 tries in a 67-3 rout of Romania.

England put one foot in the World Cup quarter-finals but not before they were caught up in yet more controversy, this time over the match balls. Johnson's side crushed Romania.

Follow all the World Cup action as England and Scotland clash at Eden Park in Auckland. It's crunch time for both of these sides as one of them will be leaving the tournament.