IPL 2021 has been suspended following multiple instances of COVID-19 cases in the bio bubble that the BCCI created for the players. The number of cases was on the rise, with two from the CSK camp, 5 DDCA groundsmen and one from the SRH camp.
Here are the five mistakes that led to the BCCI having to postpone the IPL this year:
1. Not Holding the IPL in the UAE
The option of holding the IPL overseas was considered by the investors and stakeholders. They were convinced that it was the right option as well, due to the rising number of cases. It has been done before and could be done again, however that was not the perspective of the Indian Cricket Board.
2. Caravan Model
The decision to hold the tournament in six different venues, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru was controversial, to say the least. Especially given the fact that no spectators would be allowed in the stands, it made for unnecessary exposure for the players to their surroundings and in turn, the virus.
3. Lack of Safety Mechanisms
Last season, the BCCI hired UK-based company Restrata to create a bio bubble for the players. The technology firm did a decent job of protecting the health of the players but a similar strategy was not undertaken by the BCCI this season.
4. Lack of Coordination
Hotels were booked at random by the teams, and there was a lack of planning for the accommodation for the teams and that has clearly shown on the records. One particular instance saw a team in Mumbai being put up in a hotel 10km from the stadium, with the hotel being a part of a commercial complex.
5. Weak Bio-Bubble
The bio bubble created by the BCCI was marketed as the safest place on earth, but with six COVID cases amongst the players, that claim does not hold true anymore. The player’s lives have been risked, and the pandemic situation has clearly been disastrously navigated by the organising committee.
