The decision of hosting the second phase of the Indian Premier League matches in cities with no alternate T20-specific practice facilities might have caused the breach in the COVID protocol, it has emerged.
Cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad hosted the second phase of the tournament and the COVID cases in these cities were increasing rapidly. Besides, the two cities struggled for alternate practice facilities for teams.
“There is a belief within many Board of Control for Cricket of India (BCCI) and state officials that the decision to take the second phase to Delhi and Ahmedabad was wrong. There were four teams in each city and except for the main ground, which is an international-level facility and hosted matches, the alternate facilities meant for practice were open to exposure to Covid-19,” an official in the know of things told IANS.
Both the stadiums are the congested and in the old part of the city. The practice areas in both the stadiums are not much adequate for T20 cricket.
“The problem with the newly-built Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera is that the adjoining grounds and facilities are still under construction. While it will be a state-of-the-art facility with multiple grounds, it is not yet completed. The teams can’t use the current practice nets as it is not suitable for big hitting needed during T20 practice. It is okay for Test matches or first-class cricket practice,” said the official.
“So, taking players to Gujarat College ground was fraught with risk as there are so many people like the maalis [gardeners], security guard and others. It was easy to get infected,” he pointed out. As many as three teams, including the worst-affected Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), practiced there. Four KKR players tested positive.
“Shifting the tournament to Delhi and Ahmedabad opened the tournament to Covid-19 exposure,” the official said.
The third and last phase of the tournament was supposed to be held in Kolkata and Bengaluru. Even though Bangalore is facing a huge crisis, it has some good facilities for practice.
