Fears loom over IPL as a member of the broadcast team tests positive for COVID-19. Previously, 13 members including two players from CSK were found positive. At least one member of the STAR production crew has been tested positive for the virus before leaving for UAE, after which the official broadcasters’ production team’s departure was postponed.
The 13th edition of IPL was originally scheduled to kick off from March 29. However, it was postponed indefinitely after April 15 due to the surge in coronavirus cases in the nation. The postponing of the World Cup to 2021 gave the IPL a window to be conducted in September.
STAR postpones crew flights after a member tests positive
The official broadcaster of IPL, the STAR group had planned for their broadcasting team to depart for UAE on 31st of August after conducting their Coronavirus tests. The tests when done on Saturday resulted in one member testing positive after which the staff’s flights were all postponed until further notice. The broadcast team mainly includes Indian crew members.
“STAR had asked the first lot of Indian crew members to reach the UAE from India on August 31, after reports of their Covid-19 tests, which were hurriedly done on Saturday on receiving instructions from the broadcaster. But one of them has tested positive and on getting this news the broadcaster immediately sent another instruction to all the personnel to defer their August 31 Emirates flight to the UAE,” a reliable BCCI-IPL source told IANS.
Major Changes can be effected on IPL after positive cases being found
The STAR team will now wait to see the developments and then send the team which will further delay their quarantine period too. The BCCI has still not released the IPL match scheduled, with only 18 days left for the tournament to begin. Abu Dhabi has reported a spike in COVID-19 cases, which can force to change the opening match’s venue to the other emirates.
“Now, major changes could be effected in the IPL following a spate of positive Covid-19 test results of team personnel and now a crew member of the production team. One could also see changes in the opening game, which was likely to be played in Abu Dhabi, between champions Mumbai Indians and runners-up CSK. One big reason is that the number of positive Covid-19 cases are rising in Abu Dhabi, though initially Dubai and Sharjah were more affected,” said the source.
As of the news until now, the IPL 2020 will begin from September 19 and culminate on November 10. Overall. a 53-day campaign will see all the eight IPL franchises play in UAE. The matches will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah respectively.