- I am certain, millions of cricket fans would have endorsed the subject statement as the Indian Premier League T20 was peeking by its all-familiar thrills, frills, excitement, and suspense-filled twists/twirls holding the rapt attention of the television viewers. Come 7.30 PM every day, die-hard cricket lovers would religiously switch on the idiot box and wait with anticipation to witness some fantastic pyrotechnics from the renowned exponents of the game. As other forms of entertainment mediums were shut down owing to covid related restrictions, watching high-quality cricket sitting in the comforts of the home was what most of us were indulging in with the bated breath.
PC:
- Of course, this was in line with the prescribed safety and health protocols vis-à-vis covid appropriate behavior too. Make no mistake, there was that inevitability surrounding the tournament getting affected by the dreaded virus at some point as the second wave kept gaining strength by the day infecting lakhs of people. Even though the Board of Control for Cricket in India left no stone unturned in their preparations to make the 14th edition of the league go as seamlessly and precisely as is possible, there were apprehensions raised all along about the suitability of conducting the matches in more than 2-3 venues.
- Strictly maintaining the biosafety bubble under the circumstances could have been compromised by the unscrupulous protocols followed vis-à-vis travel involving eight franchises and their jumbo staff. Reports emerging on this front suggest some compromises did indeed occur. Extensive domestic traveling to and from the cities under the grip of the pandemic could have been completely avoided by zeroing in on two venues alone viz. Mumbai and Chennai. For that matter, sticking to only one venue like Mumbai with two international level grounds could have helped the cause to a great extent.
PC: Rahul Sadhu
- In hindsight, the entire tournament could have been held in the UAE itself where the 13th edition was conducted last year successfully. A ready, viable, and successful template was already available that could have been easily replicated by the BCCI mandarins. The only palpable reason to conduct the league in India could have been the ensuing T20 World Cup scheduled in October-November here. The Board would have likely wished to test the waters here before the marquee event rather than shift the league to UAE as an encore. No denying the thinking behind such a move but eventually did not work out the way it was envisaged.
- With this setback, the Board will be in a piquant situation wondering whether it will be able to organize the World Cup as scheduled in India as the health experts warn about the impending third wave striking the country during the period. Now that the event stands indefinitely suspended, the Board officials would be seriously considering shifting the suspended 14th edition of the IPL as well as the World Cup to the UAE. Reports emerging suggest the Board is contemplating conducting the leftover league matches in the UK as well. Whatever the decision, the league could have been salvaged in one or the other form.
