After a couple of players and a couple of ground staffs, now 14 members of the broadcasting team have tested positive for the noble coronavirus, days ahead of the start of IPL 2021. Among the ones infected are directors, EVS operators, producers, cameraman, producers, and video editors.
Meanwhile, there has been a huge surge in the COVID-19 cases in India with the death rate going up each passing day. Maharashtra has accounted for 50 percent of the total cases in India. Amid all these, Mumbai is set to host matches from April 10 to April 25. However, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that IPL 2021 will go on as per the schedule.
14 Members from broadcast teams suffers COVID-19
As per reports, the broadcast team was staying at Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai. On being approached, Star Sports Head Sanjog Gupta refrained from making comments and asked to collect the details from the BCCI. It has also been learned that Star expressed its apprehensions to the BCCI regarding hosting IPL 2021 matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“Star is concerned about their broadcast crew. If the ground-staff and event management team is getting Covid-19 infected – the same can happen to Star’s crew. They have to closely mingle around with both ground staff as well as the event team. That is the reason Star is very concerned about the situation” a BCCI source was quoted as saying in Insidesport.
With the growing number of cases in Maharashtra and the state going into a partial lockdown, many states have come forward to host IPL 2021 matches. Mohammad Azharuddin, Hyderabad Cricket Association president, proposed Hyderabad as a venue for the upcoming edition of the T20 extravaganza. On state from North India has also offered to host matches for the T20 league.
“In these difficult times, there is all the more reasons for us to stand by each other. Hyderabad Cricket Association would like to offer its facilities to @BCCI to ensure that IPL2021 is conducted in safe and secure venues,” his tweet read.
In these difficult times there is all the more reasons for us to stand by each other. Hyderabad Cricket Association would like to offer its facilities to @BCCI to ensure that IPL2021 is conducted in safe and secure venues.
— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) April 4, 2021
