IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings inform BCCI that they won’t play next match – Reports


IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings inform BCCI that they won’t play next match – Reports

Chennai Super Kings

The Indian Premier League (IPL) which had not been hit till yesterday by COVID-19 despite the prevalent situation outside, due to bio-bubbles, was dealt a shock when as many as 9 confirmed positive tests of the virus were reported. This included two players from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier meaning that KKR’s game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had to be postponed.

Similarly, there were three positive tests among the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp before it was confirmed to be just two in bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and a bus staff. Further, there were a total of 5 positive cases among the groundstaff at the Feroz Shah Kotla (Arun Jaitley Stadium) in Delhi. All of these has led to a cloud of doubt hanging over the next few fixtures and the entire tournament.

Chennai Super Kings to not play tomorrow’s match – Reports

Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings

According to reports from The Indian Express, the Chennai Super Kings franchise has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) already that the two positive tests for COVID-19 mean that they would take the field only if all players who were in contact with Balaji and the maintenance staff got themselves tested. This would mean that tomorrow’s match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) is in serious doubt.

“The CSK coach is asymptomatic. However, as per the BCCI’s Covid protocols, everybody who has come in contact with him will have to undergo a six-day quarantine. We can’t play our next game (against Rajasthan Royals). The BCCI knows about the testing protocols and how many tests need to become negative before an all-clear is given. We have communicated it to the BCCI. They will have to reschedule the game between CSK and Rajasthan Royals,” a CSK official told The Indian Express.

Further, the BCCI is now reportedly awaiting governmental approval to shift matches to Mumbai. “Coming to the league itself, we are looking at moving base to Mumbai, but are awaiting clearance from the Maharashtra government and once that is done, we will be good to go. Should take us another couple of days to get the clearance,” a BCCI official said.

After the match against RR, there is a break of just one day for CSK who play their next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 7.

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