Former England captain Vaughan gives his two bits on IPL

Dubai - The 2005 Ashes-winning skipper says that a five-week window during September-October will act as an ideal tune-up before the players head for the T20 World Cup Down Under

He has been one of astute captains the cricket world has ever seen. His cricketing acumen and his leadership qualities were par excellence as he outmaneuvered none other than the shrewdest men of them all, his opposite number Ricky Ponting in 2005.
That Ashes series now part of folklore as Michael Vaughan held aloft the little 'Urn,' for the first time since Mike Gatting had done so in the 1986-87 Ashes in Australia.
Now, a writer and a broadcaster, he still portrays all those qualities which has made him one of the best.
And Vaughan, who was the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003, gave his two bits and gave enough food for thought as the sport grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The cricketing calendar, like many other sports, has been thrown into limbo following the coronavirus outbreak that has reached epic proportions.
The home stretch of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was postponed, while international cricket, which includes the World Test Championship too, is under a cloud. So, is the popular money-spinning Indian Premier League (IPL).
The IPL was due to start on March 29 but has been deferred until April 15 as India, like many other countries around the planet, has gone into lockdown.
The new date too looks highly unlikely as the lockdown is in place until April 14 and Indian premier Narendra Modi hinted on Thursday that the curfew will be removed in three phases.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL officials are looking at a window later in the year to host the event, but it all depends on the availability of foreign players, who are a big draw in the extravaganza.
And with this being a World Cup year, it cannot get any tighter. The T20 World Cup is pencilled in from October 18 to November 15 in Australia. 
But Vaughan, who played 82 Tests of which 51 as skipper, suggested that the IPL could be a lead-up to the World T20.
The 45-year-old said that a five-week window during September-October will act as an ideal tune-up before the players head Down Under.
"My thoughts on the IPL .. as it's such an important tournament for the games economy globally not just in India .. I would play a 5 week tournament Sept/Oct including all players as a warm up for the T20 WC .. that's if we are clear to travel by then .. Thumbs up Thoughts ? #Stayhome" Vaughan tweeted on Friday.
In an earlier tweet, Vaughan, who lead England at the World Cup in 2007 and was the country's first T20 skipper from 2005 to 2007, had said that it was important for the game that the IPL and the World Cup take place.
Meanwhile, Australian vice-captain Pat Cummins has said that it is still a bit of a "holding pattern" with regard to the IPL.
"They obviously haven't cancelled it or anything like that yet. It's still a bit of a holding pattern," said Cummins, who turns out for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
"We're in contact with our teams every few days. Obviously, everyone's still really keen for it to all go ahead. But you know the priority is to minimise risk of (coronavirus) spreading," added the fast bowler.
james@khaleejtimes.com