What comes as heart-breaking news for cricket fans across the globe, Vivo IPL 2021 has been suspended after more cricketers tested positive for COVID-19 today. BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla confirmed that the 14th edition of the IPL has been suspended after an emergency meeting.
The second wave of COVID-19 has finally jeopardised the Indian Premier League. Informing about the temporary suspension of the league, an official announcement on IPL’s Twitter handle read “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.”
Stressing out the importance of the safety of the players, the BCCI claimed that they don’t 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 the stakeholders in mind.”
BCCI claimed that the league was carried out to provide positivity and a sense of hope to everyone around the world who is battling the COVID crisis. However, as the safety of the players was getting compromised, the board has decided to suspend the league so that they can spend time with their families.
BCCI said that the board will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.
The governing board also thanked all the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, franchisees, sponsors, partners and all the service providers who tried their best to organise IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times.
Earlier, BCCI had planned to conduct the ongoing edition of the IPL as per schedule, but their plans took a hit when SRH keeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was diagnosed COVID positive just before SRH was set to take on Mumbai Indians.
DC leg spinner Amit Mishra, CSK coach Laxmipathy Balaji and a travel support staff member also tested positive for COVID-19 after KKR players Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive on Monday, which compelled BCCI to suspend the marquee league.
