BCCI got lulled into a false sense of security
That the IPL should fizzle out prematurely and suddenly, while a source of shock to many, was in fact always a lurking threat. One had only to look back a couple of months to the Pakistan Super League, which was called off when several members of one team tested positive.
In India, whether the tournament should be called off on moral grounds because of the scale of tragedy and devastation caused by the pandemic in the country was a subject of hot and protracted debate, with opinion divided down the middle. But the ‘gamechanger’ was always going to be the virus, if it struck.
In hindsight, there are several things which now appear could have been done to ensure a full tournament. The BCCI should have been more proactive to the threat from the pandemic, not being lulled into a false sense of security by the successful conduct of the series against England.
The logistic of the IPL are far more complex and demanding, since the tournament features far more players/support and other staff, and also entails travel, which is now being
The choice of venues in India seemed dictated by political exigency rather than with acute understanding of the pandemic. Why Ahmedabad was chosen for the play-offs and final without the city having a franchise in the league is well-known. talked off as may have been a key factor in causing the crisis.
The BCCI should have been plugged in to the Covid (mis)management in the country, and could have shifted the tournament elsewhere, maybe the UAE, in March itself.
Sources within the Board aver that this proposal was mooted by some and even agreed upon by some franchises and players, but never moved forward as the powers that be wanted the league to be played in India at any cost.
It’s not hard to believe that this decision was stoked by political motive. The choice of venues in India too seemed dictated by political exigency rather than with acute understanding pandemic.
Mumbai, Delhi were hotspots and could have been avoided. Why Ahmedabad (numbers for this city were massively fudged) was chosen for the play-offs and final without the city having a franchise in the league is wellknown. Matches could have been scheduled instead in Hyderabad and Mohali, which also have teams.
In such a fragile environment, everybody involved in the league had to be on utmost guard. Beyond that, luck also plays a part. But there is little doubt that the BCCI got lulled into a false sense of security, much like the central government in the national context, and took its eyes off the ball.
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@Samcasm7 Every cricket fan to BCCI right now .... #iplcancel
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