BREAKING: IPL 2021 suspended indefinitely for this season

BREAKING: IPL 2021 suspended indefinitely for this season

IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) has been officially suspended. The vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Rajeev Shukla as well as the IPL in a statement confirmed the same. The number of COVID-19 cases in the IPL bio-bubbles has been increasing ever since yesterday and now, the BCCI has had no option but to put a stop to the tournament.

It all started yesterday with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier testing positive for the virus. There were then two more positive tests among the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp with bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and a member of the maintenance staff testing positive. Today, there were positive tests in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC) camp with Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra testing positive.

Organizers release statement on IPL 2021’s suspension

Amit Mishra and Wriddhiman Saha
Amit Mishra and Wriddhiman Saha who tested positive for COVID-19 today

It has now been confirmed that the IPL 2021 has been indefinitely suspended. There are no chances of the tournament resuming any time in the near future. According to KKR CEO Venky Mysore, a new time window is being considered by organizers of the tournament. However, with the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) scheduled to be played on the 18th of June and the rest of the year stacked with international events, scheduling is bound to be a huge problem.

The IPL released a statement saying, “The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind.”

“These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times. The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021,” they added.

“The BCCI would like to thank all the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, franchises, sponsors, partners and all the service providers who have tried their best to organise IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times,” they further said.

It remains to be seen as to whether there would be a resumption of the tournament in the future. But one thing is for certain, there won’t IPL 2021 in the near future.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra test positive for COVID-19