MUMBAI: The questions around the approach the BCCI is taking in delivering the Indian Premier League in the middle of a raging pandemic was brought again into stark relief Monday following the postponement of the game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on Monday evening, after two KKR players tested positive for Covid-19.
Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were found to be positive in the third round of testing in the last four days. All other team members have tested negative for Covid-19.
The BCCI in a statement released to the media, stated: “Both the players have isolated themselves from the rest of the squad. The medical team is in continuous touch with the duo and are monitoring their health. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders have now moved towards a daily testing routine to identify any other possible cases and treat them at the earliest.
“The medical team is also determining the close and casual contacts of the two positive cases during the 48 hours prior to collection of the sample that returned the positive test results.”
Incidentally, the 60-match IPL reached its halfway mark on Monday, with the 30th match scheduled, between KKR and RCB, being postponed.
Meanwhile, in a related development, ESPNcricinfo reported that three members of the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL contingent – chief executive officer K Viswanathan, bowling coach L Balaji and a bus cleaner – have tested positive for Covid-19. The results emerged after the latest round of testing on Sunday.
If that were not enough, as many as five ground staff of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) have reportedly tested positive. Delhi is scheduled to host IPL games till May 8 and four teams – Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – are currently in the capital city.
The Delhi stadium last hosted a game between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon.
An ECB spokesperson, meanwhile, told ESPNcricinfo that the England board was monitoring the situation, but the decision to continue to play or leave the IPL would be left to the players.
“We continue to monitor and communicate with our players and staff currently in India,” the spokesperson said. “In terms of continued participation, it will be a decision that will be taken by each individual.”
Cricket South Africa pretty much echoed the ECB position, telling local media that while it has kept in touch with the 11 South African players participating in the IPL, it is ultimately their individual decision.
“We’ve offered support to the players and made ourselves available to them should there be any concerns,” said CSA’s director of Cricket Graeme Smith. “Ultimately, it is in their hands to make a choice (about their continued participation).”
What does this mean for the BCCI’s head honchos – secretary and home minister Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah and president Sourav Ganguly? Simply that they are in a really tight bind of their own making.
As noted by the Indian Express, the positive test of KKR players and BCCI’s Covid protocol is expected to put the IPL itinerary in jeopardy. With the final of the tournament scheduled for May 30 and international players expected to return to national duty from early June there is little leeway for an extension.
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand is scheduled to be played in Southampton from June 18-22 and the Indian team ideally needs a clear 15-day gap between the IPL and the WTC final.
Covid has breached the IPL bubble at a time when India is reeling under the second wave of the pandemic. Recently, the BCCI ramped up bio-security measures, including additional tests at the IPL venues. The latest development, however, could rock the boat.
Rock the boat? It could well capsize the boat. As already noted, this is a disaster in the making that has to be laid squarely at the feet of BCCI’s leadership. IF they had bothered to take note of the calamitous turn the second wave of the coronavirus was taking and IMMEDIATELY decide that all games should be shifted to one or at most two venues that had relatively lower COVID case loads, SportzPower believes that the BCCI would NOT be in the situation it finds itself in.
Be that as it may, the BCCI is now essentially living on a hope and a prayer that there are no more positive cases. Otherwise? Otherwise nothing. When there is no Plan B, forget Plan C or D or E, then there is simply no wiggle room for manouvre.
And while on the subject of the coronavirus pandemic, it bears noting that on Monday, India’s official (emphasis ours) coronavirus case count was over 300,000 new ones for a 12th day running.
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