IPL 2021, April 5: Despite Covid-19 gripping IPL 2021 the Maharashtra Govt announced various curbs and restrictions in Mumbai due to Covid-19, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has declared IPL 2021 matches in Mumbai will take place as scheduled.
“The IPL matches will be held in Mumbai,”, declared Ganguly in an interview.
Sourav said. “Once you are in a bubble nothing happens. Even in the UAE last season, there were a few such incidents in the lead-up to the event but once the tournament started everything was fine.”
“We have got the necessary permission and assurances from the state government to conduct matches there. Mumbai will be hosting only ten matches between April 10 to 25 and there will be nothing to worry about inside the bio-bubble. We are in a well-secured set-up and the players and support staff will be safe,” the BCCI president insisted.
IPL 2021 in Mumbai – MI vs RCB: Covid-19 has gripped various stakeholders of IPL 2021 in Mumbai
In the last 48 hours, various stakeholders, workers connected with IPL 2021 have tested positive in Mumbai.
- 10 Groundsman at Wankhede tested positive
- 8-10 IPL Event managers tested positive
- Axar Patel (DC), Devdutt Padikkal (RCB) tested positive in Mumbai
- 1 member of CSK Staff has tested positive
But Ganguly and other BCCI officials are confident that IPL 2021 matches in Mumbai can be conducted without any major issues.
There’s been a rapid surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country with Mumbai reporting over 9000 people in the last 24 hours who have been affected by the virus.
There’s talk that matches could be shifted to Hyderabad but the former India captain didn’t wish to read much into it.
Also Read: Axar Patel test positive for COVID19, BCCI says too late to shift matches
All of the four teams who will start their IPL campaign in Mumbai — Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals — have already reached there and are staying at five-star properties exclusively meant for the franchises.
The Maharashtra Cabinet which met on Sunday has decided against imposing a full lockdown.
The Maharashtra government on Sunday announced new restrictions including a night curfew in the state and a “strict lockdown” over the next weekend from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 pm amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases.
The rules include a curfew from 8 pm to 7 am, gatherings of five or more banned throughout the day; malls, restaurants and bars will be closed; home delivery and essential services will be allowed.
