IPL 2021: Officials asked to carry a negative COVID-19 report before entering Wankhede Stadium to watch IPL matches

There has been a rapid increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai. This has been a cause of worry for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is scheduled to host as many as ten league games of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League.

IPL 2021 will run in Mumbai from April 10 to April 25 with the opening game between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). A few days ago, the Indian board was dealt with a massive blow when it was learned that as many as ten groundsmen at the Wankhede tested positive for the novel coronavirus. This was followed by two more members of the ground staff and a plumber at the stadium returning a positive result.

Thus to ensure the safety of the players and other support staff and not risk the IPL 2021, BCCI has made it mandatory for all the officials to carry a negative Covid-19 report. BCCI has conveyed to the office-bearers and other members who are planning to watch the IPL games live at Wankhede to produce a negative report of the RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours of the match day. 

MCA write an email to its Apex Council members

In the same light, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has issued a notice to its Apex Council members stating that they will have to carry a negative report every time they visit a stadium. There are 17 members, including five office-bearers in the MCA’s Apex Council. 

“Dear Apex Council members, as per the BCCI’s protocol, all the officials who would be attending IPL- 2021 matches at the Wankhede Stadium are required to produce a negative report of the RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours of the matchday,” wrote MCA secretary Sanjay Naik in an email as quoted by Times of India on Thursday.

“The tests are mandatory even for those who have been vaccinated. The report will have to be produced at the time of entry to the stadium on each match day. Hence you are requested to get yourself tested at your end and carry the negative report to the stadium on match day,” the mail further read.