Spike in Covid-19 cases has not just hit the nation but also the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) as not just people associated with the tournament like staffs and groundsmen are being found positive but even the valuable players are being affected by the deadly virus.
Amidst the rising cases in IPL, particularly with focus in Mumbai which is suffering the worst scenario due to Covid-19, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has offered its Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium as a venue option in case the Indian cricket board looks to shift matches.
Earlier around 10 groundsmen at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, which is facing a lockdown, had tested positive for Covid-19 and HCA’s proposal comes in the wake of these incidents.
“In these difficult times there is all the more reason 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,” tweeted former India cricketer and HCA President Mohammed Azharuddin.
There had been talks that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has kept Hyderabad as an optional venue for this season’s IPL 2021.
Earlier, reports had stated that the BCCI has kept Hyderabad as a standby venue for the IPL matches during the upcoming 14th season.
“Hyderabad has emerged as a back-up venue option, should one or more of the six designated host cities not be able to hold their matches,” a report in ESPNcricinfo stated on Saturday.
However, the report also said that none of the franchises have been spoken to by the board about a possible change in venue.
Significantly, cricketers like Axar Patel and Devdutt Padikkal have also tested positive for Covid-19.