IPL 2021: IPL GC member confirms to Insidesport, ‘Mumbai to stay IPL venue, no need to panic’: Putting rest to all speculation, BCCI has confirmed that Mumbai will remain an IPL venue, despite 10 groundsmen testing positive on Saturday along with 8 event managers and Mumbai Indian star player Axar Patel.
BCCI treasurer and IPL Governing Council member Arun Dhumal told Insidesport.co in an exclusive interview on Saturday night and revealed, “Well there is no reason why we need to shift the venue at this stage. Mumbai remains the venue as of now. There is no need to panic or press the panic button. Everything is under control. Cases are coming up and we will deal with it. Players, officials or groundsmen who test positive are being isioated and we will see it does not spread.
He added, “Its too late to shift the venue at this stage. BCCI is well equipped to handle the situation. As of now, there is no chance of shifting the venue. As it stands, Mumbai remains the venue if the situation does not go out of control in Mumbai as city and the state of Maharashtra.”
IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals shocked as Axar Patel tests positive for COVID-19, Follow more Updates
Delhi Capitals’ Axar Patel, 10 members of the ground staff at Wankhede stadium and six event managers, deployed by the BCCI, have added to the growing list of positive cases in the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting April 9.
Meanwhile, a positive case has also emerged from Chennai Super Kings’ media content team. The member isn’t a part of the bio-bubble. The team’s training schedule remains unaffected.
The BCCI is bullish about holding the 10 IPL games in Mumbai between April 10-25 despite an enormous spike in COVID-19 cases in the city, saying creating a bio-bubble at an alternative venue would not be feasible at a short notice.
Hyderabad and Indore have been kept as stand by venues for the IPL in case the COVID situation spirals out of control but as of now, the BCCI is confident about holding the games in Mumbai.
IPL 2021: No teams have training access at Wankhede
However, none of the teams currently in Mumbai — Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings — have access to Wankhede.
Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings for example are taking turns to train at the Brabourne Stadium and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) ground. KKR is training in Navi Mumbai at the DY Patil before they leave for Chennai.
It is expected that BCCI’s medical unit will enhance the testing rate due to the surge of cases in the state.