IPL ‘can’t happen’ in India while coronavirus rages: Ganguly
NEW DELHI: This year’s suspended IPL cannot be completed in India while it batles a raging coronavirus crisis and could struggle to find a slot elsewhere, India’s cricket chief Sourav Ganguly has said.
The Indian Premier League was abruptly halted at the halfway stage last week ater several players became infected. India is reporting nearly 4,000 deaths and about 400,000 new cases a day.
Ganguly, president of the Board of Control for cricket in India, said there was no way for the lucrative tournament to resume before India play the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand in England on June 18.
“Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL,” Ganguly told Sportstar magazine in India at the weekend.
“There are lots of organisational hazards like 14-day quarantine. It can’t happen in India. This quarantine is tough to handle,” he added.
Virat Kohli’s side have a complicated schedule in coming months.
India will go to England in early June to prepare for the world Test final.
They are then scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in July before returning to England for five Tests in August and September.
Last year’s IPL was moved to the UAE because of the pandemic and a number of English counties have offered to host the remainder of this IPL.
As pandemic case numbers took off in India, more than 10 players and support staff in the IPL teams tested positive in the biosecure ‘bubbles’ set up for the league.
The IPL was halted ater four players from Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals tested positive.
Most foreign players have since let India. New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert and Chennai Super Kings’ Australian bating coach Michael Hussey remain under treatment ater testing positive. Hussey recently returned a negative test.
“Bubble life is harsh; it’s the toughest thing,” said Ganguly.
“Since last September, a majority of players around the world have been living inside a bubble. There is no option. We can’t play cricket without the bubble.
“Beter to be on the field than sit at home.” Meanwhile, New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham also said he doubts if the postponed 2021 IPL will be held in India if it is resumed but he is ready to return to the tournament if it resumes.
“If it did start up again, I doubt the IPL would be in India again,” says Neesham. “I think we’ve already seen plans for the T20 World Cup to move out of India later in the year and they’re going to be ultra-cautious about that sort of thing,” Neesham told New Zealand’s Newshub.
“For me, I signed up for the IPL knowing what it might be like. I felt like it was an obligation -- I made the commitment to go and never had any thoughts of pulling out individually before the tournament finished. Guys will have different opinions on that, but it’s my job, I’m a professional and you have plenty of times you tour countries you’re not that keen on going to, but it’s about geting on the field and geting the job done,” said Neesham.