IPL 2021: 14 members from broadcast bio-bubble test COVID-19 positive

Before the start of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been faced with more troubles. In a recent development, 14 members of a broadcast team from the bio-bubble set up have tested positive for COVID-19. Among the ones infected are directors, EVS operators, producers, cameraman, producers, and video editors.

As per reports, the broadcast team was staying at Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai. On being approached, Star Sports Head Sanjog Gupta refrained from making comments and asked to collect the details from the BCCI. It has also been learned that Star expressed its apprehensions to the BCCI regarding hosting IPL 2021 matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Earlier, members of the groundstaff at the Wankhede also tested positive for the virus. In the COVID-19 second wave, Maharashtra has accounted for 50 percent of the total cases in India. Mumbai is set to host matches from April 10 to April 25.

Star showing concerns over IPL 2021

“Star is concerned about their broadcast crew. If the ground-staff and event management team is getting Covid-19 infected – the same can happen to Star’s crew. They have to closely mingle around with both ground staff as well as the event team. That is the reason Star is very concerned about the situation” a BCCI source was quoted as saying in Insidesport.

In the meantime, other cities like Hyderabad have also offered to host a few games. Mohammad Azharuddin, Hyderabad Cricket Association president, proposed Hyderabad as a venue for the upcoming edition of the T20 extravaganza.

“In these difficult times, there is all the more reasons for us to stand by each other. Hyderabad Cricket Association would like to offer its facilities to @BCCI to ensure that IPL2021 is conducted in safe and secure venues,” his tweet read.

In these difficult times there is all the more reasons for us to stand by each other. Hyderabad Cricket Association would like to offer its facilities to @BCCI to ensure that IPL2021 is conducted in safe and secure venues.

— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) April 4, 2021

However, Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, sounded confident that matches could go on in Mumbai. The veteran said that the IPL didn’t stop even when similar incidents took place last year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The 2021 IPL is scheduled to start on April 9 with the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.