Australian pacer Pat Cummins believes that the IPL 2021 should have been allowed to continue even with players from various franchises testing positive. A total of four players, two each from Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals and one from Sunrisers Hyderabad tested positive. The cases led the BCCI and the IPL governing council to unanimously decide to suspend the IPL temporarily.
While some were of the view that the tournament should be halted keeping the things happening in the country, others felt that it should continue as it gave the people of India under lockdown a much-needed mode of distraction. Pat Cummins was one who believed in the same school of thought.
Pat Cummins On Why IPL 2021 Should Have Continued
“It gives people a routine, it helps to keep them in homes. Everyone thought it was a positive the IPL was still going on. I wondered what could I do? India has been so good to me for so long as a player. The people are amazing. I wanted to try and help out and give back a little bit.”
The Aussie pacer further said that he did not feel unsafe throughout his stay in India for IPL 2021. They were sent to the Maldives on Thursday and the same was confirmed by Cricket Australia’s statement as well.
Pat Cummins further said that he was willing for the IPL to continue and people back home in Australia had a mixed reaction to this. While one section was of the view that cricket should not be played amid the growing number of cases, a certain section believed that the IPL brought respite from three to four hours a day which people found relaxing.
“The IPL in the UAE last year was brilliant, it was really well run, but millions of people were saying it should have been played in India, so what do you do? You can see both sides. They set up this tournament with all the best advice,” he signed off.
