Axar Patel, CSK member, tests positive for COVID-19

With less than a week to go, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has plunged into crisis with a player and another team member contracting the coronavirus.

Delhi Capitals SUV Axar Patel tested positive after joining the team in Mumbai with a negative report on March 28, and subsequently tested positive in the second test conducted. He has been transferred to a medical care facility.

Axar Patel checked into the team’s hotel in Mumbai on March 28, 2021 with a negative report. His second COVID test report was positive. He is currently in isolation in a designated health care facility. The Delhi Capitals medical team is in constant contact with Axar and ensures your safety and well-being. We wish him a speedy recovery, “the Delhi franchise said in a statement.

A member of the Chennai Super Kings content team has also tested positive and has subsequently been placed in isolation. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the development to Cricbuzz and said the person was not in contact with players or support staff and was on a different floor even before getting a positive result on their Covid-19 test. .

Even as franchises were grappling with the potential threat from the virus, reports emerged that several Wankhede Stadium outfielders also failed the test. A source from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has denied the reports, saying that base staff have subsequently turned negative, but the situation in Mumbai, which will host 10 games in the first half of the season, is getting worse. returning quickly would be with the Chief Minister of the state ruling out the possibility of re-imposing a blockade.

There are around 2.9 million cases in Maharashtra and Mumbai, the virtual hotspot of the country, records more than 8000 new cases a day in recent times. In such a context, there has been widespread concern among franchises whether the BCCI has maintained a Plan B.

The BCCI has yet to communicate with franchises about the threat of the crown crisis, but its officials are believed to be thinking of alternatives. “We have not heard from BCCI about any change in plans. We speak regularly with Board officials. With less than a week to go, it is now a situation from which there can be no turning back. It is difficult to switch to one. new city, manage so many hotel rooms disinfected and restart everything, “said a franchise official who reacted to reports that Hyderabad has been kept as a reserve.

Four franchises – Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals – are based in Mumbai for the first leg of the league.

MCA official rules out threat to Mumbai games

Despite the growing Covid crisis in Mumbai, there is no tangible move to get the parties out of the city. Ten games, from April 10 to 24, have been assigned to the Wankhede. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Saturday night (April 3) reiterated that all matches are scheduled despite reports that 10 ground crew members tested positive.

“We have enough ground staff and they will all be in isolation from Monday (April 5) until the end of the Mumbai stage. There is no threat to the games,” said an MCA official even as the city registered more than 8,600 new cases on Saturday.

Some franchise officials have confirmed that board officials show no signs of nerves. “There is no sign of panic among Board officials. They are confident that the current crisis will go away. The good news is that the Mumbai leg is only for 15 days. They are confident that it can be carried out without problems,” said a franchise officer.