The Indian Premier League postponed a match because of the coronavirus crisis for the first time yesterday after two players tested positive, organisers said.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ match against Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore was called off just hours before its start in Ahmedabad after Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier became infected.
Three members of the Chennai Super Kings entourage, including chief executive Kasi Viswanathan and bowling coach L Balaji have also tested positive, according to media reports.
The league set up bio-secure bubbles around the eight teams before the tournament as a devastating wave of cases swept across India, which is also to host the T20 World Cup in October-November.
The country is recording about 360,000 cases and 3,500 deaths a day and has been hit by chronic shortages of hospital beds and oxygen. Chakaravarthy and Warrier “have isolated themselves from the rest of the squad” after testing positive, an IPL statement said.
“All other team members have tested negative for Covid-19.”
The IPL said its doctors were in “continuous touch” with Chakaravarthy, a 29-year-old spinner, and 30-year-old fast bowler Warrier to monitor their health.

‘Totally safe’
Media reports said the pair may have been infected when they left their team hotel for injury check-ups. “The medical team is also determining the close and casual contacts of the two positive cases during the 48 hours prior to collection of the sample that returned the positive test results,” said the statement.
All IPL games so far have been held behind closed doors, but after three Australian players left the tournament last week, organisers sought to reassure the remaining foreign stars that they are “totally safe”.
Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye and Kane Richardson left their IPL teams before the Australian government imposed a ban on arrivals from India.
The Australian Cricket Board has said it is in daily contact with the Australian players still at the IPL. The English Cricket Board also said it was talking with staff and players in India.
“In terms of continued participation, it will be a decision that will be taken by each individual,” said a spokesperson.
A number of players, including Bangalore’s Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams and Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel, tested positive for the virus before the league started on April 9.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has stepped up coronavirus security as the surge has worsened. Players are tested every two days and cannot order food from outside their hotels.
While some have questioned going ahead with the tournament during the health crisis, Indian cricket authorities, who stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars if it is halted, have insisted it is helping to raise spirits. Kolkata’s Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins, one of the most expensive imports, said last week “there has been quite a bit of discussion” over whether the IPL should continue as he announced a $50,000 donation to buy oxygen equipment.
“I am advised that the Indian government is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides a few hours of joy and respite each day,” he added.
BCCI acting chief executive Hemang Amin said players were “bringing hope to millions of people who have tuned in”.


Stranded cricket star slams Australia over India travel ban
Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater slammed his government yesterday for threatening to jail anyone who breaks its India travel ban, telling the prime minister he had “blood on your hands”. Australia on Saturday warned that people entering from India – where a raging Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the healthcare system to breaking point – could face five years behind bars. The threat came after travellers exposed a loophole by taking indirect flights home from India. They included cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, who left their Indian Premier League clubs ahead of the ban.
Slater, now a well-known television pundit, had been commentating on the IPL for broadcaster Star Sports in India before leaving the tournament as case numbers soared. He travelled to the Maldives, where he is waiting to find out when he can return home, The Australian newspaper reported yesterday.
“If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this,” the 51-year-old tweeted.
Critics have accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government of abandoning the country’s citizens during a time of crisis. Morrison has also rejected calls for charter flights to return thousands of citizens, including cricketers in India for the IPL. The travel restrictions, introduced to try and stop India’s outbreak from spreading to Australia, will remain in place until May 15 at the earliest.
Australia closed its international borders to most non-citizens in March 2020. Those who travel to the country are required to spend 14 days in a quarantine hotel. Slater occupied a position at the top of the Australian Test batting order for close to a decade, hitting 5,312 runs before his 2004 retirement. (AFP)