Remaining IPL 2021 Season Suspended Indefinitely As Players Test COVID-19 Positive

Mumbai- After four players participating in the IPL 2021 tested positive by Tuesday, the BCCI and the IPL governing body decided to call off the remainder of the tournament indefinitely in an attempt to ensure the safety of the players, support staff, and the other participants involved in the tournament. 

The suspension order comes right after the captain of Delhi Capitals' Amit Mishra and Sunrisers Hyderbad's Wriddhiman Saha tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Wriddhiman Saha after testing COVID-19 positive yesterday has been in isolation while Delhi Capitals' Amit Mishra tested positive today. 

Earlier on Monday, two players from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were the first players to test positive for the novel coronavirus within the IPL bio-bubble. This led to the match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) which was scheduled to take place on Monday to be called off.

CSK's bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and a member of the travel staff tested positive for COVID-19 too tested COVID-19 positive resulting in the match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) which was scheduled for May 5 to be rescheduled.

One of the SRH players also tested positive for this deadly infectious disease due to which the May 4 fixture versus Mumbai Indians was ordered to be rescheduled.

"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 Indian Cricket Board issued the statement. It further read, "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 well-being of all stakeholders in mind." 

The BCCI in its statement also assured that it will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021 and urged everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times. 

Lastly, the BCCI expressed its gratitude by saying, "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."

BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla told the media that the IPL has only been suspended for the time being, hinting at the possibility of the tournament resuming again if the circumstances favour. 

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