New Delhi, May 5: With the second wave of COVID-19 rampant in India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had no option but to postpone the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. But the board is keen to tap the September window before the T20 World Cup to finish the league.
“A September window is being considered. By then the England-India series would be over and the foreign players would be ready for the T20 World Cup. That small window is being explored,” said a franchise official who is in know.
Speaking to ANI, a senior BCCI official in the know of developments said that if the COVID-19 situation is under control in September, the 14th edition of the league can be completed.
Asked about the situation with regards to the return of the foreign players who were part of the league, the official said: “As mentioned by BCCI earlier as well, it shall be ensured that all the players reach home safely. Planning is on and a clear picture will be out by tomorrow on their travel routes.”
Earlier, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said that keeping an eye on the current COVID-19 situation, the BCCI and IPL Governing Council decided to postpone the league.
“The BCCI and the IPL GC have unanimously decided to postpone the 2021 season till further notice. We don’t wish to compromise the safety of the players, the people involved, the employees, the groundsmen, the match officials, every single person involved,” he told ANI.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in India in October and November with uncertainty on the venue. India are the designated hosts but UAE has been kept as a stand-bye.
When contacted, Brijesh Patel, the chairman of the IPL, did not rule the September window out.
When specifically asked what next, he said, “Now we have to look for a window. If we get one, we will explore holding it. We’ll have to see if it is possible in September. We need to examine the plans of the ICC and other boards.”
Reacting to IPL chairman’s comments, another franchise official said September was a long way off and one had to see how the Coronavirus situation develops.
Ness Wadia, co-owner of Punjab Kings called the supspension of the league the “right decision at the right time.”
“It is very unfortunate but it is a decision that is correct under the current circumstances. I would say given the drastic increase in cases in the last two-three weeks, it has brought in a new dimension to the planning that was done at the beginning” said Wadia who also confessed to not being concerned about the monetary loss.
With four teams carrying Covid positive cases, the tournament could not have dragged on for too long anyway.
But at one stage, the option of suspending the action for five days and taking the whole IPL entourage into quarantine was explored but the BCCI bosses were made aware of the panic among foreign players and senior support staff members.
IPL GC examines bubble breaches
IPL’s Governing Council members, largely consisting of the office-bearers, came down heavily on the medical team of the BCCI. Questions were raised about the measures taken and how they did not materialise.
The medical team engaged Supratech company for managing the bio-secure bubble in Ahmedabad while in Chennai and Mumbai, Newberg was responsible.
The name of the company for the Delhi bubble was not immediately known but at it is leant that the BCCI going to probe the lapses.
The point of note was that the sanctity of the bubbles was compromised not just in Delhi. Even in Ahmedabad it was found to be inadequate. (Agencies)
