BCCI Suspends All Age-Group Tournaments Due To Covid-19

In what comes as the latest development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend all age-group tournaments like the upcoming Vinoo Mankad Trophy in the wake of the prevailing Covid situation in the country.

According to a report published in ANI, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has written a letter to all the state associations to inform them about the decision to suspend all age-group competitions currently as they would require inter-city travel and a bio-bubble set-up.

“The domestic season 2020-21 started unusually late owing to the countrywide lockdown on account of the global pandemic. The pandemic meant that we had to wait until January 2021 to start our domestic season and as discussed in the 89th AGM, we began our season by hosting the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ahead of the IPL Auction,” wrote Jay Shah as quoted by Asian News International (ANI).

“The domestic T20 tournament was followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which was successfully conducted at different centres in India with New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium hosting the final between UPCA and MCA on Sunday, 14th March,” he added.

“The Women’s Senior One Day Trophy is also currently underway at different centres with the final scheduled to take place on 4th April. While our endeavour was to get in as many matches as was practicable across different age groups in the season, prevailing circumstances have now forced us to suspend all age-group tournaments,” Shah wrote. ”This is on account of the fact that active COVID cases are on the rise and organising tournaments requires intercity travel, strict quarantine measures and the creation and maintenance of bio-secure bubbles for the participants,” explained BCCI secretary.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah further iterated that with board exams around the corner, it would be prudent to plan the age-group tournaments after the IPL, which will take place between April 09-May 30.

“Moreover, the situation is presently not conducive in some states. Considering the fact that the 10th and 12th board examinations are also around the corner across India, it is prudent that our young athletes have the opportunity to prepare and focus on these crucial examinations,” wrote BCCI’s Jay Shah.

“Furthermore, our players’ health, safety and well-being are our primary concern. I assure you that we will continue exploring a window for organising the age-group tournaments post the IPL 2021,” he added.

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