BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal: ‘Who would have imagined such a situation will arise? Had we known, we could have held the IPL overseas’

The BCCI officers endured some sleepless nights with Covid-19 instances coming over the previous couple of days. With a number of members amongst IPL franchises testing optimistic, the Board had no choice however to postpone the match. In a chat with The Indian Express, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal spoke on this and several other different points. Excerpts:
What occurred over the past three days?
We have been repeatedly reviewing the state of affairs on the subject of Covid-19 and security of the gamers. We had two instances first after which bought information that an official and one other member of the franchise had been contaminated. Today, we bought to know that just a few extra gamers have been being examined. So, maintaining well being and security in thoughts, it was finest to postpone the match. Nothing else issues for us aside from security, it’s the paramount concern.
How did the BCCI react after they heard that Covid had entered the bio-bubble?
The BCCI was fearful and we have been looking for out the way it occurred. The first case we bought to know was of Varun Chakravarthy. He was alleged to go for a scan. We felt he may need bought contaminated. Then a second case got here in. Now fairly than discovering out the way it occurred, all felt that first we must always make everybody secure and safe. Safety, at this second, is paramount for us.
What was mentioned within the emergency assembly?
BCCI secretary (Jay Shah) was in contact with everybody, so was IPL chairman (Brijesh Patel). The secretary briefed us concerning the state of affairs. He advised us what was occurring and what we will do now. He prompt that wanting on the state of affairs, it was higher to postpone. Everyone agreed with the secretary’s view. The optimistic instances occurred in supposedly the most secure place. The gamers felt it was the most secure place in India however no person could make predictions about this virus.
Why did BCCI choose so many venues?
In a standard state of affairs, we’d have had extra venues, like Indore and Pune. They additionally used to host IPL video games. When we have been conducting the England sequence, every part went so easily that we thought that it’s time to take cricket again to every zone. At least, the principle centres of India.
The IPL ought to have been performed in all areas. We all thought that after what the nation went by way of in 2020, the IPL will enhance the spirit of the nation. We performed a dummy run and deliberate out issues. When the England sequence was performed in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Pune, the state of affairs was much better. As issues went so easily, all of us have been fairly assured that we will conduct the IPL easily. Who would have imagined such a state of affairs will come up? Had we identified, we may have held the IPL abroad. It was in the course of the time when issues have been getting regular that we took the decision. We have been fairly assured that we’ll pull it off.
Couldn’t the IPL be held in a single metropolis?
It was by no means mentioned then as a result of no person knew what was coming. What was the assure that if we had hosted it in a single metropolis like Mumbai, there would have been no instances? When we began, Mumbai was the worst- affected metropolis. Then too, there would have been criticism. At that time of time, this was the best choice we had.
Didn’t the BCCI wish to shift all the IPL to Mumbai after the optimistic instances got here to gentle?
It was by no means mentioned. I don’t know the place that got here from. Shifting the IPL again to Mumbai wasn’t viable or attainable in such a brief span of time. Setting up a brand new bubble takes round 14 days. Who can predict at this second {that a} explicit metropolis is safer? Any metropolis can see a spike at any level of time.
How did BCCI take a look at the criticism of getting the IPL in the course of the pandemic?
There are people who find themselves specialists in criticising. That is their experience. We consider in doing the perfect we will. It’s a trademark of BCCI and we tried our greatest. We don’t go by folks’s criticism. We gave it our greatest shot.
How will you ship the international gamers residence?
We stand by our phrase that for us, the IPL just isn’t full till our gamers and officers attain their houses secure and safe. We are engaged on that and can come out with an in depth plan in two days.
Any window deliberate for the resumption of the IPL?
We haven’t mentioned something as all our focus is now on making certain gamers, help employees and officers attain residence safely. When a window is accessible, we’ll maintain it.
What is your estimate on the income loss?
At this level, it’s the least of our considerations. We usually are not desirous about it. Numbers can wait.