IPL 2021: 10 Wankhede Ground Staff, 6 Event Managers Test COVID-19 Positive, Standby Venue Between Hyderabad and Indore, Reports

Despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai and 10 members of the Wankhede Stadium staff who tested positive for the deadly virus, the BCCI is hopeful of holding the scheduled IPL matches in Mumbai from April 10-25. In case of COVID status out of control, Indore and Hyderabad have been kept as standby venue for IPL. Cash-rich league is scheduled to host 10 matches in Mumbai. With more than 47,000 cases on Friday, Maharashtra is looking into the possible status of mini-lockdown.

Of equal concern to the organizers is the number of ground staff in Wankhede which ranges from 8 to 10 between Friday evening to Saturday morning. If this was not enough, about six members of the event management team have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been sent for isolation.

“Yes, it was 8 positive cases yesterday as far as the ground-staff is concerned. Today two more positive cases have come up and all 10 have been sent back home and isolated.”

A senior Mumbai CA official told PTI, “We are bringing new ground staff from Kandivali’s Mumbai CA Grounds for preparation. The 6 to 7 event management staff hired by the BCCI have also tested positive.”

When a senior BCCI official was asked about the situation, he admitted that the BCCI was genuinely concerned.

“Look, even if there is a lockdown, the teams are in the bio-bubble and it is also a closed-door event. So we are still convinced that the IPL games in Mumbai will be in accordance with the schedule of Chennai Super Kings with Delhi Capital. The tournament. On the second day of 10 April.

“But Hyderabad and Indore are on standby in case of standby,” he told PTI on Saturday.

So far, none of the teams currently in Mumbai – Delhi Capital, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings – have reached Wankhede.

“Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings are training at Brabourne Stadium and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) grounds for example. KKR is training DY Patil in Navi Mumbai,” the official said.

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It is expected that BCCI’s medical unit will increase the test rate as the cases increase in the state. Till last year, the responsibility of event management and operations of IPL was handled by IMG, but from this year the board is handling the event on its own.

“We have enough back-up staff to handle it, as we had assumed that the situation in Mumbai is serious at the moment. But yes, we are closely monitoring the situation,” the official said.