MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the Board of Control for Cricket in India taking the “tone deaf” decision to grant permission to four of its affiliate associations – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Mumbai and Saurashtra – to host their intra-state T20 leagues immediately after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League on May 30, said associations have reportedly seen the “writing on the wall”.
A day after obtaining the go-ahead from the BCCI, three of the four states said they are not sure of conducting the leagues and one association has called off its tournament altogether.
On Thursday (April 29), the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) said it has deferred the league. “In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country and keeping in mind the safety and interests of all the stakeholders involved, the Mumbai Cricket Association has decided to defer the conduct of the third edition of the T20 Mumbai League till further notice,” the MCA said in a statement. The decision follows an internal meeting among the MCA officials.
BCCI interim chief executive Hemang Amin, in a letter to the four state associations, had stated: “Owing to the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, the BCCI is giving a one-time permission to organise the tournament within the 15-day window after completion of IPL 2021.
“Accordingly, the BCCI is pleased to grant you the approval to organise the tournament for the year 2021.”
The IPL ends on May 30.
Meanwhile, Cricbuzz reports that Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) said it is not thinking of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) at this stage because of the Covid-19 situation and lockdown in the state. “The situation is not conducive at this stage. We have not had a meeting and we have no time for it either. We will decide later,” KSCA treasurer Vinay Mrityunjay told the cricket website.
Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu officials have said they will wait for the permission from their respective state governments. “The systems are in place and we can hold the tournament, but at this stage we cannot say. We need permission from the government. We are happy that the Chennai leg of the IPL has gone through without hiccups. We will wait for the government’s advice,” said Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary S Ramaswamy.
The response from the Saurashtra Cricket Association official was also on similar lines. “We have a five-time league (Saurashtra Premier League). We know how to organise even in a bio-secure environment, but it depends on the Covid situation at that time,” an SCA office-bearer said.
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