MUMBAI: Close on the heels of 10 members of the ground staff team at the Wankhede Stadium testing positive for COVID-19, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Monday co0nfirmed that permission has been granted for the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in the city, but with restrictions.
Malik said that matches will be played behind closed doors and only relays will be allowed.
“People are not allowed to sit in the stadium, only relays can be done. Players and others involved in IPL will be required to isolate themselves at the same place,” Malik told news agency ANI.
“The BCCI has demanded that all players should be vaccinated (for IPL), but as per ICMR guidelines, the age limit is 45 years (and above). Until and unless it issues new guidelines, we can’t vaccinate. As soon as we get permission, more people will be vaccinated,” Malik added.
On the matter of the Wankhede ground staff testing positive, a senior Mumbai Cricket Association official had told PTI on Saturday: “Yes, it was eight positive cases yesterday (Friday) as far as ground-staff are concerned. Today (Saturday) two more positive cases have emerged and all 10 have been sent back home and are isolated.
“We are bringing fresh ground-staff from the Mumbai CA ground in Kandivali for preparations. Also, six to seven event management staff hired by BCCI have also tested positive.”
It is also worth noting that around six members of the event management team have also tested positive for COVID-19 and have been sent to isolation.
It must be noted that the last edition of the IPL had to be shifted because of the coronavirus-led lockdown in India. All the matches of the last edition of the IPL was played in the United Arab Emirates. The matches were played in three cities – Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi – in a bio-secure environment.
Earlier on Sunday, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said that all matches of the 14th edition of IPL will go head as per schedule.
Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium will be hosting 10 matches of the 14th edition of IPL. The first match in the city will be played between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings on April 10.
IPL 2021 kicks off on April 9, with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on against Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has announced night curfew and weekend lockdown to curb the fresh surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the state. The night curfew in the state will into effect from today at 8 pm.
