BCCI urged to scrap IPL 2020 in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases

The BCCI, on Saturday, delayed the announcement of IPL 2020 schedule after multiple CSK members tested positive. The BCCI released a statement saying 13 personnel have contracted the virus and are under isolation at the moment. However, the board refrained from taking any names.

The release also mentioned that two players are also COVID-19 positive and these two names are reportedly Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The news was a huge shock to many fans as well as organizers who are eagerly awaiting the IPL 2020 to commence after many delays.

The news of CSK members testing coronavirus positive has instilled fear in minds of several individuals and many have even questioned the feasibility of the tournament due to the risk involved in it. A Mumbai-based social activist Ravi Nair has even asked the BCCI officials to scrap this year’s IPL.

He has sent a 5-page legal notice through his lawyer Tanweer Nizam to the BCCI officials, questioning the board’s move to host the league at a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing in the UAE.

All affected personnel have been isolated from other team members

“As a cricket lover, I feel ashamed that our Indian government and the Indian cricket board feel that the UAE is fit to play the IPL this season. This in spite of 68000 cases and 490 cases everyday in UAE,” Nair has stated, as quoted by bdcrictime.

“That, this approval was given without keeping the safety and well-being of the Indian players and hence in violation of Rights and Constitutional guarantees to every citizen of India, including the players featured in the IPL-13th Edition”, the notice further said.

“That, by merely shifting the venue we are not conclusively keeping our valuable citizens/cricketers away from exposing to the deadly contagion COVID-19”, his letter, also addressed to the Indian Prime Minister, reads.

At the moment, all the affected personnel have been isolated from other team members. They are asymptomatic along with their close contacts. Furthermore, Nair also cited the example of the T20 World Cup 2020 being postponed in the wake of the pandemic. He argued that IPL 2020 could’ve also been delayed if the BCCI had followed ICC’s footsteps.