The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 for the time being amid the burgeoning Covid-19 crisis in the country that has led to a few players -- both Indian and foreign -- opting to pull out of the ongoing season.
Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey tested positive for COVID-19 late on Tuesday for the second time, a day after the IPL team's bowling coach L. Balaji returned positive for the virus. "Hussey was tested and his sample came positive. We sent it for retesting but that has also come positive," an IPL source told PTI .
Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia is hopeful remainder of this season could be held later this year. READ:
CSK batsman Suresh Raina reacts:
As per reports from ANI , the BCCI is mulling a September window to complete the IPL 2021 season provided the COVID-19 pandemic is under control in India.
"We would be losing anything between Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 crore for the midway postponement of this season. I would say something in the range of Rs 2200 crore will be closer to accurate estimation," a BCCI official said to PTI .
Hours after the IPL was postponed, multiple sources in the BCCI confirmed to Sportstar that the Board is keen on taking the T20 World Cup to the UAE , even though an ICC decision is expected in June.The Board officials also believe that with three grounds available in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, no air travel is needed and that would help them keep the bubble intact. “The hosting rights will be with the BCCI, so we will have to ensure that things go smoothly. These are still early days, but that’s how things stand,” he added.
“As soon as the hard border shut, obviously no-one has experienced that before. It added a bit of anxiety for a few of the Aussies over here. But we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June. Hopefully it all reopens on May 15 and we’ll be able to get back. First thing was to find out whether us playing the IPL was the right thing and basically everyone said, we would be lost without the IPL for three or four hours every night. I’m just trying to do my bit. India’s been such a good country to me and cricketers." - Australia and KKR pacer Pat Cummins to Fox Sports
- IPL chairman Brijesh Patel said the BCCI will "find a way" to arrange for the return of foreign players after the league was suspended indefinitely due to a COVID-19 outbreak in its bio-bubble.
- The foreigners involved in the lucrative league are concerned about returning to their respective countries due to travel restrictions imposed in the wake of a deadly resurgence of the pandemic in India.
- IPL suspended for this season:
Vice-President BCCI Rajeev Shukla to
ANI
- "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." -
BCCI SecretaryJay Shah to ANI
- Indian Premier League suspended indefinitely after multiple COVID-19 cases in its bio-bubble: league chairman
Brijesh Patel to
PTI
- Sunrisers Hyderabad's wicketkeeper-batsman
Wriddhiman Saha has tested positive for COVID-19.
- IPL match between SRH vs MI has been suspended. "Yes, Wriddhiman Saha has tested positive for the coronavirus. Our entire team is now under isolation and there are no other positive reports, rest are all negative," the member of the team management said.
- Delhi Capitals'
Amit Mishra also tested positive for the virus.
- This comes after two KKR players -- Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier -- tested positive for Covid-19 and two members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent.
- The IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) slated to be played on Monday evening was rescheduled for a later date.
- The game between CSK and Rajasthan Royals is also set to be officially postponed as the CSK unit is in isolation.
- "We will take stock if we can find a suitable window later during the year. It could be September but these are all speculations. As of now we are not conducting it any further," BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla to PTI
- Last week, Australian players Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson flew home from the IPL amid the surge of cases.
- Richardson and Zampa were playing for Bangalore, and Tye for Rajasthan Royals.
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