The Maharashtra government on Monday (April 5) granted permission for the IPL 2021 to take place in Mumbai despite a huge surge in COVID-19 cases in the city.

With this development, the teams will now be able to practice after 8pm and travel to their respective hotels during the night curfew that has been imposed to restrain the pandemic in Mumbai.

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Amid the rising COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Sunday (April 4) announced "Break the Chain", under which section 144 and night-curfew from 8pm to 7am on weekdays has been imposed.

However, the state government has given a green signal to the IPL teams to practice beyond 8pm, provided there is "strict adherence to bio-bubble".

"Considering the match-timings, teams practicing at the CCI and MCA are scheduled to practice in 2 sessions -- from 4pm to 6.30pm and 7.30pm to 10pm," wrote Srirang Gholap, Under Secretary of the Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation department, in a letter issued to the BCCI.

Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium is due to host 10 IPL games this season and 9 of them are slated to start at 7.30pm.

"...permission has been requested for teams and the IPL staff (to) be allowed to practice inside the grounds after 8pm and they may be allowed free movement from the ground to their respective hotels after the said time.

"Accordingly, permission is being hereby accorded for the said request subject to scrupulous adherence to the bio-bubble," stated the letter, a copy of which is in possession of PTI.

While the IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin on April 9, the first match at the Wankhede Stadium is set to be played on April 10 between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.

(With PTI inputs)