With lower than per week to go for the beginning of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021), matches at the Wankhede Stadium suffered a setback as eight of the 19 groundsmen at the stadium have examined positive for Covid-19.
As reported by The Hindu, all of the 19 groundsmen working at the Wankhede Stadium went via RT-PCR exams [Covid tests] over the earlier week. Three of them examined positive on March 26, whereas 5 extra exams performed on April 1 returned positive outcomes.
The IPL is ready to kick-off on April 9 in Chennai whereas the Mumbai leg of the matches are to be held between April 10 and April 25 with the primary match to be performed between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the venue. A complete of 10 matches will likely be performed at the Wankhede.
Notably, a complete of six bio-bubbles are being ready for the IPL 2021, and Mumbai is certainly one of them. Though the event is meant to be performed behind closed doorways, the groundsmen testing positive is simply one other signal of the COVID-19 wave in Maharashtra.
Four franchises — Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals have arrange their base in Mumbai as of now.
Meanwhile, groundsmen from the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana and Sharad Pawar Academy may very well be introduced in as replacements for Wankhede groundstaff members who’ve contracted the virus.
Speaking to ANI, an official of one of many franchises — at present primarily based in Mumbai — stated that it does change the scenario and calls for stricter protocols.
“You do get a little concerned when you hear such things days before the start of the tournament. We have all been following protocols to the core, but obviously, when such a news come in, it makes us a little wary. We are looking at keeping things as tight as possible. Have to be on our guard,” the official stated.
Is Mumbai match to host IPL 2021?
Now, it is going to be fascinating to see if the BCCI is compelled to rethink its choice to stay to Mumbai as a venue for the IPL because the Covid-19 instances in the state of Maharashtra are on a speedy rise and it’s price mentioning that Maharashtra is accountable for the vast majority of the positive COVID-19 instances throughout India.
Moreover, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday stated that the potential for an entire lockdown in Maharashtra cannot be dominated out if the surge in coronavirus instances continues.
“I cannot rule out imposing a lockdown if the current COVID-19 situation prevails. People have become complacent. We are in a Catch 22 situation – should we look at economy or health?” the Chief Minister stated in a televised handle.
“If this condition continues, I have told you already that in 15 days we will exhaust our infrastructure. So today I am giving a warning of a lockdown. Not announcing a lockdown yet. But if I don’t find a solution in two days after speaking to more people, then I have no option,” he stated.
Mr Thackeray stated the state will announce new restrictions throughout the subsequent two days.
Maharashtra, which has been worst-hit from COVID-19 thus far, reported as many as 47,827 new instances on Friday (April 3) – its highest for the reason that pandemic unfold to India in March 2020 – and 202 deaths. Several districts have already introduced particular restrictions like night time curfew.
