Players did not want to take vaccine before IPL 2021 – Reports
IPL
According to reports, cricketers who took part in the now-suspended Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) refused to take COVID-19 vaccines before the tournament as they were confident that they wouldn’t contract the virus since they were in strict bio-bubbles.
The IPL was suspended due to the pandemic breaching the teams’ bio-bubbles. As many as five positive cases were reported in the teams’ bio-bubbles meaning that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had no choice but to call off the tournament and get players back home safely.
The first cases were reported in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp where Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive for the virus. There were then cases in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp where the likes of L Balaji and Michael Hussey tested positive. With Amit Mishra of Delhi Capitals (DC) and Wriddhiman Saha of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) also testing positive, the tournament was over at least for then.
Players refused vaccines, say reports
According to a source who was aware of the developments who told The Times of India, “The players were simply reluctant about taking the vaccine when they were offered. It was not their fault, it was more about lack of awareness. The players felt the bubble they were in was secure enough and there was no need to take the vaccine. The franchises too did not push for it. Then things suddenly spiralled out of control.”
After the IPL however, a plethora of players have been taking their COVID-19 vaccines. The players of the Indian Test side who are set to leave for England for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) and a series against England are taking their first shots of the Covishield vaccine in India so that they can take the second in the UK.
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Nevin Clinton
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