Sourav Ganguly Assures Compensation For Domestic Players, Umpires, And Scorers After COVID-19 Disrupts The Cricketing Calendar

Like the last year, the cricketing calendar will likely undergo a torrid time this year since the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak is more vicious than the previous one. BCCI’s decision to postpone IPL 2021 due to positive cases emerging within the bio-bubble has come as a significant dent to many employees. But BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has assured to compensate all of them in the next two months by giving their fees.

Last Tuesday, BCCI had been left with no choice to postpone IPL 2021 indefinitely as a handful of cases emerged across four franchises. The crisis began unfolding when on Monday, Kolkata Knight Riders announced through Twitter that Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive. The next day SunRisers Hyderabad’s Wriddhiman Saha and Delhi Capitals’ Amit Mishra also sustained the same fate.

The BCCI also had the responsibility of ensuring that foreign players reach their respective countries safely and have nearly got the job done. Sourav Ganguly, meanwhile, hopes that the situation comes under control by October and promised to compensate all the domestic cricketers, umpires, and scorers by giving their fees. The former Indian captain did not see a reason to expose the players to the COVID atmosphere, especially teenage players from their parents. Ganguly also believes that organizing junior cricket is also not viable at this point.

“Hopefully, by October, things will settle down. Covid has ruined so much of sport and life. We will compensate all the domestic players in June-July. The junior players, umpires, and scorers will all get their fees. How can we expose the young boys to this Covid atmosphere? Imagine a 16-year-old away from the home and their parents and staying in hotels for long periods. This virus is so dangerous. We write to the associations. We can’t have direct access to individuals. We keep the players motivated by speaking with them through their associations,” Sourav Ganguly told Sportstar.

It can’t happen in India: Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly also declared that they cannot reschedule IPL 2021 after the World Test Championship final as India will visit Sri Lanka for three ODIs and five T20Is. The 48-year old pointed out that quarantine requirements makes it immensely challenging to occur in India and that it’s too early to talk about the competition’s rescheduling.

“No (on IPL after WTC final). India is supposed to go to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and five T20Is. There are lots of organisational hazards like 14-day quarantine. It can’t happen in India. This quarantine is tough to handle. Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL,,” he added.

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