IPL teams get permission from Maharashtra government to train at Wankhede beyond 8 PM despite night curfew in Mumbai
In a huge relief to the BCCI, the Maharashtra government on Monday gave the green signal for IPL 2021 matches in Mumbai despite the rise in Covid-19 cases. The teams have been given permission to practice beyond 8 pm at the Wankhede Stadium and have been also allowed to travel to their respective team hotels from the stadiums despite the night curfew that has been imposed to contain the pandemic.
In the wake of the alarming spike in the COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government, on Sunday, announced a slew of restrictions, including night curfews and weekend lockdowns, to control the situation. As part of the new rules, a night curfew would be in place across the state from 8 pm to 7 am and a weekend lockdown will be effective from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday. The restrictions came into effect from Tuesday (April 5).
Green light for the IPL teams
Following the recent restrictions by the Maharashtra government, there were apprehensions all around regarding its effect on the IPL games. Mumbai is scheduled to host 10 matches of IPL 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium and nine of them are scheduled to start at 7.30 pm. The teams will also move from the stadium to hotels after 8 pm on most of the days.
Fortunately for the BCCI, the Maharashtra government has given concessions to the IPL teams, provided they strictly adhere to bio-bubble and social-distancing protocols. As of now, four teams – Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, are in Mumbai and will be playing their first few games in the city.
“Considering the match-timings, teams practising at the CCI and MCA are scheduled to practice in 2 sessions — from 4 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 10 pm. Permission has been requested for teams and the IPL staff (to) be allowed to practice inside the grounds after 8 pm and they may be allowed free movement from the ground to their respective hotels after the said time. Accordingly, permission is being hereby accorded for the said request subject to scrupulous adherence to the bio-bubble,” wrote Srirang Gholap, Under Secretary of the Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation department, in a letter issued to the BCCI, according to India Today.
IPL 2021 is scheduled to start on April 9. Defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on each other in the tournament-opener in Chennai. Apart from Mumbai and Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Bangalore are the other venues for this year’s IPL.
