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IPL 2021 suspended as more players, team staff test Covid positive
NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 for the time being after several players and support staff reportedly contracted Covid2019.
“The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind,” said a statement issued by the BCCI after an urgent meeting with the IPL governing council.
“These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times,” it added.
The governing body for cricket in India went on to say that it will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.
The decision comes close on the heels of Monday’s match between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) being postponed after KKR bowlers Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive for Covid2019.
According to a report by Sportstar, the decision was taken after Amit Mishra and Wriddhiman Saha too tested positive on Tuesday. Multiple BCCI officials and the franchises have confirmed the development to media publications.
Reports stated that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had informed the BCCI that the team won’t play its upcoming match against Rajasthan Royals in New Delhi on Wednesday after two members of its squad, bowling coach L Balaji, and a bus cleaner tested Covid positive.
Many Australian players have left the IPL early amidst the second Covid wave tearing through India.
The development is sure to throw a spanner in the plans of broadcaster Star Sports and the brands who had sought to capitalise on the league’s incredible popularity and reach.
After a season abroad due to the Covid pandemic, the IPL had returned to India for its fourteenth season and a bio bubble was set up to ensure the safety of players, team staff, crew and other people involved in the league’s execution. However, the bio bubble has proved to be less than infallible as Covid positive cases were detected within even before the tournament kicked off on April 9. Now, after almost a month and millions of new cases reported, the deadly virus has pierced the bubble. With multiple infected persons cropping up across teams since last week, the fate of IPL 2021 hangs in the balance.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
