Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Khaleel Ahmed hailed the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to postpone the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) due to the COVID-19 outbreak inside its bio-bubble, saying “there is nothing more important than life right now”.
Khaleel has left for his hometown Tonk in Rajasthan after the IPL 2021 was suspended following several Coronavirus cases that have been recorded in the different franchises amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Khaleel told Times of India: “There is nothing more important than life right now. I respect BCCI's decision to suspend the IPL for now. Right now a couple of players have been infected and they might infect the entire team. So, BCCI took the correct decision to send us back home safely.”
The left-arm pacer has revealed that he was in his hotel room in Delhi when one of the members of the SRH team management knocked on his door and asked him to stay inside and wait for further instructions after Wriddhiman Saha tested positive for COVID-19.
Subsequently, there was a message, ‘pack your bags, you have to go back home on the next knock'.
He further explained, “I was in my room and I was informed that someone from our team has tested positive. We were all asked to remain in our rooms and wait for further instructions from the BCCI.
After some time, the BCCI protocols list came in and we were asked to pack our bags and leave for home. BCCI and the franchise asked us to reach home safely. This was the first thing they conveyed to us. We will wait for further instructions from the management.”
While it is still a mystery SRH keeper Saha got infected, Khaleel revealed: “We all were in a bio bubble and were following strict guidelines. There was no chance of coming into contact with anyone. I am really surprised that it (virus entering bio bubble) happened.”
The pacer further added, “As per the protocols, we were asked to remain in our room, not to contact anyone (in person), proper hand wash/sanitization, and wear masks. While dining or talking to any coaches or management, we were asked to wear masks. We all were following the protocols religiously and without any mistakes.”
He signed off by saying the Indian players' safe return to home, “BCCI has arranged everything for us and for overseas players too. They have taken full responsibility for our safety and ensured we reached home without any problem. The overseas players were also provided with full facilities.”
(With TOI inputs)
