MUMBAI: As news trickled in of Mumbai imposing Section 144 in the city and putting certain suburbs of the city under night curfew, the BCCI officials too locked themselves in a meeting to take a call on the upcoming domestic fixtures. The U-16 cricketers scheduled to play the Vijay Merchant Trophy are not vaccinated and the Board, led by secretary Jay Shah, is contemplating cancelling the tournament.
There could be a postponement too, but a final call hasn’t been taken yet and the possibility of the tournament now being held look remote. “U-16 cricketers aren’t vaccinated. They can’t be put at risk. Cancellation hasn’t been considered but there’s worry about rising numbers. The immediate solution one can think of is to postpone and wait,” BCCI sources said.
While it’s only the Vijay Merchant right now, the thought of Ranji Trophy beginning in the second month of January -at a time when another Covid wave is being expected- is not lost on the BCCI either. The Board will have to take a strict call on all the domestic fixtures, if they must be held and if yes then under the strictest of bio-bubbles.
“The last two years, BCCI had to go slow on all domestic tournaments because of the Covid menace but if you look at the bigger picture, it worked out in the best interests of everyone, especially the players. Once again, those calls will have to be taken,” sources added.
Right now, the onus remains on Vijay Merchant – a tournament that has been unnecessarily marred by conversations around age-related controversies. While the Board has its own set of plans to tackle the menace, questions are being asked if there is a more efficient way going forward. “Right now, we need to deal with Covid again. But we’ll soon decide whether the tournament can be held at all,” say officials.
There could be a postponement too, but a final call hasn’t been taken yet and the possibility of the tournament now being held look remote. “U-16 cricketers aren’t vaccinated. They can’t be put at risk. Cancellation hasn’t been considered but there’s worry about rising numbers. The immediate solution one can think of is to postpone and wait,” BCCI sources said.
While it’s only the Vijay Merchant right now, the thought of Ranji Trophy beginning in the second month of January -at a time when another Covid wave is being expected- is not lost on the BCCI either. The Board will have to take a strict call on all the domestic fixtures, if they must be held and if yes then under the strictest of bio-bubbles.
“The last two years, BCCI had to go slow on all domestic tournaments because of the Covid menace but if you look at the bigger picture, it worked out in the best interests of everyone, especially the players. Once again, those calls will have to be taken,” sources added.
Right now, the onus remains on Vijay Merchant – a tournament that has been unnecessarily marred by conversations around age-related controversies. While the Board has its own set of plans to tackle the menace, questions are being asked if there is a more efficient way going forward. “Right now, we need to deal with Covid again. But we’ll soon decide whether the tournament can be held at all,” say officials.
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