Manoj Badale’s comments came with the BCCI considering the option of playing 31 games remaining of IPL 2021 in September – a window just after India’s long Test summer in England and before the T20 World Cup scheduled in October-November.
However, Badale recognises, as would the BCCI also understand, that rescheduling the event will be an extremely challenging task given the busy cricketing calendar and stringent regulations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is a possibility, a small possibility, that in September there might be something in the UK or possibly something in the Middle East either side of the T20 World Cup, but it’s going to be a real challenge,”
“In my opinion, the players are already playing too much cricket. The calendars are incredibly packed, particularly this year after COVID. Boards from around the world are trying to get as many competitions and as many test matches as possible,”
Badale told reporters.
Earlier this week, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said that the health crisis borne out of the devastating second wave of the coronavirus outbreak has made it nearly impossible to stage the IPL 2021 in India. Ganguly’s admission means the tournament won’t take place in its homeland.
“Till this pandemic remains, it is going to be some task to organise any cricket (in India),”
Ganguly had told Sportstar in an interview while talking of the latest wave and how much it impacts the rescheduling of matches.
However, where exactly then the remaining portion of the IPL 2021 will be held is anyone’s guess, with UAE and UK being the two options. UAE had hosted the last year’s edition of the IPL very safe and sound across venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. But with several English county cricket clubs offering to play host, UK has also emerged in the picture.
The BCCI had to put on an indefinite pause on IPL 2021 on May 4 after learning of multiple COVID-19 cases inside four different teams’ bubbles. The end call was a result of a couple of horrible afternoons for the league, with two KKR players – Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier – and three non-playing CSK members – CEO Kasi Vishwanathan, bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji and a bus cleaner – testing positive.
The news within the KKR camp led to the postponement of their fixture that day in Ahmedabad versus Royal Challengers Bangalore. CSK also informed the BCCI that they won’t be able to play their scheduled encounter in Delhi on May 5 for health safety reasons.
On May 4, Wriddhiman Saha of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Amit Mishra of Delhi Capitals joined the list of positive tested individuals. With defending champions Mumbai Indians due to play SRH in Delhi, their entire team went on self-isolation as a precautionary measure after the Saha news, which ultimately jeopardised that game.
Suspect that the bubbles in Delhi and Ahmedabad have been compromised and there could be more positive tests observed in the coming days, the BCCI and IPL governing council called an emergency meeting where they took their final decision suspending the competition.
The board also promised it will ensure safe departure for everyone who felt anxious when several other countries suspended international flights from and to India.
To overcome the logistics and new travel regulations, the BCCI and all eight franchises have been sending their overseas players back indirectly via the Maldives.
