IPL 2021 suspended indefinitely in view of Wuhan’s Coronavirus
The Wuhan Virus pandemic threatens to disrupt the world's richest cricket league-IPL after few players and staff members tested positive.
The IPL after being conducted successfully for half of its schedule has hit a roadblock of the Wuhan Virus after 2 players of KKR and 3 staff members of CSK tested positive. The players were under a tight bio-bubble with restrictions of outside communication, despite that spinner Varun Chakravarthy and seam bowler Sandeep Warrier tested positive for Covid-19. The two players belong to KKR, it has been confirmed that the rest of the players of the KKR squad tested negative.
It is believed that Chakravarthy recently left the IPL’s biosecure bubble through the official green channel to get a scan on an injured shoulder and that is where he might have been exposed.
Under the IPL’s “green channel” protocol, a player requiring treatment – usually scans – is taken in a vehicle (which is in the bubble with a driver), clad in PPE, to the hospital. The testing/treatment is done by medical personnel with PPEs and masks and the player returns in the same bubble vehicle.
Also three members of the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL contingent – chief executive Kasi Viswanathan, bowling coach L Balaji, and a bus cleaner – have tested positive for Covid-19.
The official statement from IPL:
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.
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.
The BCCI and the Kolkata Knight Riders prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved and all measures are being taken in that endeavor.
Reports say the BCCI is mulling to shift the entire IPL to Mumbai, but there’s serious panic in the camp of the franchises and cricket is the last thing on their mind.
Franchises and stakeholders had requested the BCCI to consider shifting the tournament to UAE at the start due to the surge in cases in India, but BCCI wanted to showcase its ability to host it as the world T20 cup was too scheduled to take place in India after few months.
