IPL 2021: Sharad Pawar assures BCCI 'full support' from Maharashtra in hosting matches

The recent rise in COVID cases in Maharashtra also forced the state government to ban crowds in the upcoming ODI series between India and England. The three-match series is scheduled to be played in March. However, it seems that for the IPL there is a chance of allowing 50% crowds. 

During the ongoing India and England Test series, 50% of the crowds were allowed in Chennai and Ahmedabad. Sharad Pawar has assured the BCCI that this could happen in Maharashtra during the IPL as well. Pawar has a lot of influence in the administration of Maharashtra. He is said to have given BCCI assurance that the state government will do everything to help them in hosting IPL matches. 

Meetings between Sharad Pawar, MCA and BCCI officials have turned out to be positive: Reports

A report on Cricbuzz said that IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, acting BCCI CEO Hemang Amin and a few officials of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) met Pawar. The meeting was fixed to discuss the possibility of matches in Mumbai. Pawar, who is a former BCCI and ICC President, has given a positive response. 

One of the senior officials of BCCI had revealed to Cricbuzz that after the meeting with Pawar, the board is confident about having 50% crowds during the match in Mumbai. The India-England series started behind closed doors but since the second Test, 50 percent of the capacity was allowed. 

“The general impression at the meeting was that it should be just like in Ahmedabad or Chennai, where the 50 per cent crowds are/were allowed,” a source in the know told Cricbuzz. Earlier a report had suggested that BCCI is mulling over Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore. However, this was opposed by some IPL franchises like Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings have expressed disappointment to that, as they believe they should also get some of the matches.