The IPL 2021 stands postponed after it was discovered that a third team - and possibly a fourth - had at least one positive case. The BCCI decided it was in the best interest of all stakeholders to get everyone home and safe. Follow our Live Blog for all the updates, reactions and analysis. Please keep refreshing for latest updates.
@BCCI has taken a good decision by suspending ipl for now. It will be decided later on when to resume it or reschedule it keeping in mind the COVID situation. It's in the interest of players & support staff. @IPL
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) May 4, 2021
We are in a worldwide pandemic - faced with several challenges. It's sad to see another big tournament being affected - however it's the right decision taken at this point. It's important to understand nothing can be water tight & working against a pandemic is challenging itself
— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) May 4, 2021
2.20pm
The next big question
What becomes of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in India later this year, now? One of the lessons from this IPL even after making an allowance for the dramatic surge in cases as compared to during the Test series is that it is a different ball game to organise a multi-team event with multiple venues and air travel involved. It is no surprises cases emerged inside the strict IPL bubbles within days of their travel from Chennai and Mumbai to Delhi and Ahmedabad. This will raise questions on whether it is safe to host the T20 World Cup in India.
The ICC will surely look into it and take the BCCI's inputs on it. We already know that the UAE is a back-up option in a worst-case scenario.
Covid don't care.
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 4, 2021
It has no favorites.
Get well to those sick and hopefully everyone else will get home safe and in good health.
— Jason Behrendorff (@JDorff5) May 4, 2021
2pm
The BCCI's biggest immediate challenge
Given the stated aim - and rightly so - is to get every participant to their families and loved ones, the biggest immediate challenge for the BCCI is to get overseas players into their respective countries.
As it stands, most countries in the world have already banned entry for those coming in India or contemplating that. Australia is one of the countries that have done the former. New Zealand is still allowing citizens back in. The UK will require those coming in to quarantine for 10 days at a government-approved hotel and test on days 2 and 8. However, the UAE, a major transit point for most flights, has stopped entertaining flights from India. Air travel from India to Bangladesh stands suspended but the land border is open with the caveat of a 14-day quarantine.
NZC has responded to the situation: "NZC remains in contact with the New Zealand contingent in the Indian Premier League. The players are in a relatively safe environment and those within affected teams are in isolation. We'll continue to liaise with the BCCI, the ECB and New Zealand government authorities in terms of managing their situation - but at this juncture it's too early to discuss potential options."
Mohammad Isam from Bangladesh tells me: "BCB is in touch with the BCCI about the Bangladesh duo's travel plans. It is not clear whether Shakib and Mustafizur will be doing a 3-day or a 14-day quarantine. It is being considered still because they are coming from India."
1.45pm
Why we know a resumption is not in sight
These are the operative parts of the BCCI statement.
... it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times.
The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.The BCCI would like to thank all the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, franchises, sponsors, partners and all the service providers who have tried their best to organise IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times.