IPL 2021: BCCI arranging vaccine doses for all players, reveals Chris Lynn

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to provide all the Indian Premier League participants a dose coronavirus vaccine next week to continue with the tournament. This coming at a time when the country is nearly in a state of health emergency due to the pandemic has raised a few eyebrows.

Notably, India is suffering from a scary second wave of COVID-19, driven by a new variant that is understood to be more infectious and deadly than the previous strain. The numbers suggest a gloomy picture too, with India recording five successive days of unprecedented infections breaching the 350,000-mark. As per official records, the nation recorded over 3.52 lakh cases and 2,812 deaths in a single day yesterday.

The vicious surge has overwhelmed the health infrastructure of the nation, which is finding itself in an increasingly difficult situation of handling such volume of patients needing emergency that too amidst medical oxygen and resource shortages.

Intending to curb the ravages of the virus, the Indian government opted to roll out vaccines to everyone 18 or above from May 1, although the nation is reportedly running out of vaccines just as the government had set plans in place for a mass vaccination drive. State governments have said there is already a shortage or complete lack of shots and they had been unable to order more.

BCCI urges players to not quit IPL 2021

Amid the rising concerns around health and future impositions, IPL 2021 has already witnessed multiple opt-outs, with as many as five players – Ravichandran Ashwin (family concerns), Liam Livingstone (bubble-fatigue), Andrew Tye (worsening situation), Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa (personal reasons) – pulling out in the recent past.

The BCCI has clarified its stance that the tournament is set to go as per the schedule. It is also learned that the apex body has sent a letter to all the IPL members urging them not to quit and Australian Chris Lynn (currently playing for the Mumbai Indians) has revealed that he and other players are due to get a shot next week to continue playing.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has conveyed that they will “try and facilitate the travel of players” who are leaving, in consultation with the franchise.