IPL 2021: BCCI Allows Indian Players To Get Vaccinated For COVID-19, Stance On Overseas Players Not Clear

The Indian government has allowed youngsters over 18 years to age to get vaccinated for Covid-19 from May 1, 2021. BCCI has also allowed Indian cricketers to get vaccinated if they want to. However, it is not clear whether the foreign players can also get vaccinated or not. BCCI decision comes as many Indian and foreign cricketers are taking part in IPL 2021 amid the Covid-19 surge in the country.

While on one side people and health workers are battling the Covid-19 pandemic in India, cricketers are taking part in IPL 2021 matches on the other side. The BCCI’s move to conduct the tournament amid the ongoing pandemic has been criticized by many. However, so far, BCCI has managed to conduct IPL 2021 matches successfully under total precautions.

Chris Lynn Hopes To Get Vaccinated For Covid-19

A BCCI source told ANI that BCCI has allowed Indian players to get vaccinated if they want to. He also pointed out that the move is only available for Indian players at present. This statement is quite contradictory to what Mumbai Indians’ player Chris Lynn had said earlier. Lynn had mentioned that they are going to get vaccinated in the coming weeks.

“The Indian players can get vaccinated from Saturday. It is a call that is left on players.  The option is only available for Indian players at present,” the BCCI source told ANI.

Earlier, Chris Lynn had told Australian news portal News Corp Media that all the players are getting vaccinated next week. Lynn informed that he urged Cricket Australia to arrange a private charter flight for Aussie players to return home after Covid-19.

“I texted back that as Cricket Australia makes 10 per cent of every IPL contract was there a chance we could spend that money this year on a charter flight once the tournament is over? I know there are people worse off than us. But we are going from a really tight bubble and are getting vaccinated next week so hopefully, the government will let us get home on a private charter,” Lynn had said.

Now, both the statements reveal that Indian players can get vaccinated from next week but the stance about overseas players for vaccination is not clear. Many overseas players have left IPL 2021 midway due to the Covid-19 surge in India.

These players also feared being locked of their home country. Australian player and Rajasthan Royals’ member Andrew Tye left for Australia for fear of being locked out of his home country. Moreover, RCB’s Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa have also returned to Australia citing personal reasons.