Health Ministry advises to avoid large gatherings, Sports Ministry to NSFs, including BCCI

The government on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India rose to 60. Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya said that sporting events in the country can continue but without the presence of a large number of people.

"We have asked all the NSFs, including the BCCI, to follow the Health Ministry's latest advisory, which says public gatherings should be avoided in all events, including sporting activities. The sporting events can go on but the advisory needs to be followed," said Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya, reported Times Of India.

The government's decision to suspend most visas until April 15, which comes into effect on Friday, has put a big question mark on the sporting events in India. As a result, no foreign player will be available for the IPL till April 15. Before that, the shooting World Cup and the Indian Open golf tournament were postponed while badminton's India Open will be played behind closed doors. 

"We wrote to all NSFs, including the BCCI but the BCCI is yet to respond to our communication. Not just the NSFs, the government has written to Chief Secretaries of all states. The government has asked all the states to follow the Epidemic Act of 1897," added Jhulaniya.

The outbreak, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, has led to more than 4,000 deaths globally.