This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, sports leagues are facing unprecedented challenges. The English Premier League and the Kenyan Premier League are among those affected, with the latter having suspended its season in March 2020.
Cricket, a sport often associated with rain, has a solution to this problem. The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, introduced in January 1997, allows for the calculation of a run target for a team in a limited overs match that has been interrupted by rain.
Using this method, a winner can be determined based on the number of overs bowled and the number of runs scored. This system has been widely adopted in international cricket and has proven to be effective.
Applying this principle to football leagues, it is possible to determine a winner based on the number of matches played and the points earned. This would be a fair and transparent way to conclude the season, especially for leagues that have reached an advanced stage.
For example, in the English Premier League, Liverpool leads the table with 82 points, 25 more than second-placed Manchester City. Similarly, in the Kenyan Premier League, Gor Mahia is leading the table with 54 points, while Kisumu All Stars and Chemelil Sugar occupy the relegation zone.
While there are different opinions on how to conclude the season, the DLS method provides a mathematical solution to this problem. It is a fair and transparent way to determine a winner, and it would be a welcome solution for football leagues affected by the pandemic.
