IPL is on maintain indefinitely on account of coronavirus considerations

Bowler Trent Boult from Delhi Daredevils plays against the Rajasthan Royals during an IPL cricket match.

Vishal Bhatnagar | NurPhoto | Getty Image

The 2021 Indian Premier League has been suspended amid concerns about coronavirus levels in the country.

The number of new coronavirus infections in India exceeded 20 million on Tuesday. 357,229 new cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, adding further strain to an already overwhelmed health system.

Three Australian cricketers – Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye – have already dropped out of their IPL season to go home while Indian weirdo Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a break to spend time with his family.

The regular season should end on May 23rd. Qualifiers and eliminators should follow before the final on May 30th.

“The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unanimously decided in an emergency meeting to postpone the IPL 2021 season with immediate effect,” said an IPL statement.

“BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of players, support staff and other participants involved in organizing the IPL. This decision was made with the safety, health and wellbeing of all involved in mind.

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“These are difficult times, especially in India, and while we have tried to bring something positive and cheer, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone returns to their families and loved ones during these difficult times.”

Three Australian cricketers – Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye – have already dropped out of their IPL season to go home while Indian weirdo Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a break to spend time with his family.

Several English players – including Captain Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali – took part in the tournament. The ECB had already announced on Tuesday that the decision on whether or not to continue participating would be left to the individual.

People like Buttler, Bairstow and Ali, who are members of the English testing team, had the chance to miss England’s five-day streak against New Zealand in early June, but the postponement of the IPL could cause them to become available.

The statement goes on to say: “The BCCI will do everything in its power to ensure the safe passage of all participants in IPL 2021.

“The BCCI would like to thank all employees in the healthcare system, government associations, actors, support staff, franchise companies, sponsors, partners and all service providers who have done their best to organize IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times.”

In this image, taken on October 10, 2020, a taxi drives past a hoard of Mumbai Indian cricket players at the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament in Mumbai.

INDRANIL MUKHERJEE | AFP | Getty Images