BCCI must preserve sanctity of bio-secure bubbles to prevent IPL 2021 from imploding

The cash-rich Indian Premier League that gets organised with much fanfare by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has returned to India after a year-long break. Back in 2020, when the BCCI had decided to retreat from the country, India was in mid of the ‘first wave’ of Covid-19 pandemic and was reporting an average of 30,000 new covid cases daily.

Ironically, now, when the BCCI has brought its marquee event back to where it belongs, the novel Coronavirus is back as well, with a far more serious and rapidly spreading ‘second wave.’ India is currently reporting a record number of cases every day and the April 9, when the first game of the 14th edition is scheduled to be played, the infection count has gone as far as 1,31,000 new cases.

After showing signs of settling down in the last months of 2020 and early January, the Covid-19 outbreak took another surge across the country. The number of cases is being reported in record number every day and most of all, the big cities, where the matches have been scheduled to take place have found to be the hotspots once again. 

Hence, an understated issue that could well be an inflexion point for the tournament and the BCCI is the issue of groundsmen, who will be commuting from the respective homes in the cities that are reporting cases at large numbers.  

10 groundsmen test positive in Wankhede

The players and match officials have been in bio-secure bubbles but that is not the case with the groundsmen at all the venues. Reportedly, it is leading to the spread of fear among players and franchises which eventually could well be a point to ponder for both the BCCI and franchises.

The BCCI should have planned proactive measures for times when the number of cases in host cities will become insurmountable. By the shreds of evidence that have appeared in the public domain, the BCCI and the IPL governing council seem to be a far way off from any substantial efforts to combat the effect of a widespread and community transmissible Covid-19 on the league.

These are unprecedented times and the great game of cricket has not gone unscathed from the chaos and disruptions that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought upon all of us. However, cricket governing bodies have not lost their nerves and have found ways to tackle the challenges coming up trumps by hosting matches under difficult circumstances.

Organisation in 2020 vs 2021

To its credit, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) came well prepared for the 13the edition of the Indian Premier League back in 2020, although it came at the cost of shifting the league out of India.

The move was significant as it established BCCI’s willingness to host its flagship campaign which has emerged as its principal cash cow over the years. Also, the move to host it outside of India was taken with the view that bio-secure bubbles were sacrosanct for the tournament to go as per their revised plans.

There were some hiccups in the days leading up to the tournament when staff members and players of the Chennai Super Kings tested positive for the novel coronavirus after their arrival in the UAE. However, they were assigned isolation and the spread of the virus was controlled before it could jeopardize other franchises and consequently, the whole tournament.

The preparation of the last edition of the league, and some turbulence with respect to the CSK Covid-19 saga should have worked as a valuable lesson for the BCCI on the path of hosting the tournament, but this time in India.

On the contrary, the BCCI and the IPL governing council have been found napping as the cases of novel Coronavirus among franchise members and players are mounting.

No 'bubble' for Padikkal? 

Take the latest example of Devdutt Padikkal’s induction into the Royal Challengers Bangalore. According to ESPNcricinfo, the left-hander had tested positive for the infection at his home in Bengaluru, and as per the franchise officials, he underwent isolation for 10 days before barking on a rod journey to Chennai and joining his teammates at the RCB.

Even if the BCCI were to believe the words of franchise officials on its face value, the rule of undergoing a quarantine of seven days should not have been exempted for him as he was not coming in from a bubble.

Reportedly, the exemption to Padikkal has exposed BCCI and IPL management to some pertinent questions from the other franchises officials who have not been allowed to get into bubbles without passing the prerequisite tests. The franchises have also sought BCCI’s response on whether the RCB management has given any written undertaking taking the responsibilities of any bubble breach by the induction of Padikkal.

Lessons from the PSL

There is an example next door for the BCCI to learn if they have forgotten their own hard-earned ones. The Pakistan Super League got cancelled as there was an outburst of cases among players from different franchises. Later, it was revealed that players and officials were allowed or they found a way around to flout all Covid-19 related guidelines leading to the creation of porous bio bubbles.

There will be flare-ups and that’s understood given the fickle behaviour of the virus and failure of all organisations including the WHO on its containment. But, what is worrisome that the BCCI has not been as vigilant as it should have been to enforce discipline over franchise officials.

BCCI needs to go back to do the basics right which laid the foundation for the IPL. The board had decided that franchises will be treated equally and they will be allowed to spend an equal amount of money for players and other resources and only that equality will create a fair competitive environment for franchises. Had it not been done, India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, who currently owns the Mumbai Indians franchise would have bought all the franchises and created a league of his own.

BCCI needs to outline and stress the sanctity of bio-secure bubbles to all franchises and corresponding officials. If they can’t create a free and fair environment where players and franchises can prosper in these testing times of Covid-19, players opting out of league midseason can’t be ruled out which will be only bad news for both the quality of the IPL and the prestige of the BCCI which they flaunted so much after carrying out a successful tournament last year in UAE.