The Board of Control for Cricket of India’s (BCCI) decision to host the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in Delhi and Ahmedabad with no alternate T20-specific practice facilities reportedly went wrong and probably led to the postponement of the tournament, if reports are t be believed.
Earlier this month, the IPL 2021 was suspended mid-way due to a breach of the franchise’s bio-bubbles. The BCCI and IPL governing council postponed the T20 league indefinitely on May 4 after several players, coaches, and support staff tested positive for the COVID-19 positive.
The first stage of the IPL 14 that was played in Mumbai and Chennai went off without a hitch, but when the tournament shifted to Delhi and Ahmedabad, things went wrong as the COVID-19 cases started emerging from the various teams, and eventually, the tournament was forced to postpone.
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It is being said that Delhi and Ahmedabad – two of the biggest cities of India witnessing a constant rise in the COVID-19 cases – were struggling to get alternate practice facilities for IPL teams.
Teams like the Chennai Super Kings used the Roshanara Club ground for the practice in the national capital, while teams including Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad were forced to use Gujarat College ground.
Now, the reports claimed that not having alternate facilities for practice in Delhi and Ahmedabad led to the Coronavirus outbreak inside the IPL bio-bubble and postponement of the IPL 2021.
An official close to the development told IANS: “There is a belief within many BCCI and state officials that the decision to take the second phase to Delhi and Ahmedabad was wrong. There were four teams in each city and except for the main ground, which is an international-level facility and hosted matches, the alternate facilities meant for practice were open to exposure to Covid-19.”
The official further explained, “The problem with the newly-built Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera is that the adjoining grounds and facilities are still under construction. While it will be a state-of-the-art facility with multiple grounds, it is not yet completed.
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The teams can't use the current practice nets as it is not suitable for big-hitting needed during T20 practice. It is okay for Test matches or first-class cricket practice. So, taking players to Gujarat College ground was fraught with risk as there are so many people like the maalis [gardeners], security guard, and others. It was easy to get infected.”
He signed off by saying, “The Roshanara Club in Delhi is also a club which is not suited for practice for the IPL franchise. Besides, you have local staff that can easily infect the players or staff. Shifting the tournament to Delhi and Ahmedabad opened the tournament to Covid-19 exposure.”
(With IANS Inputs)
