Week before IPL, Wankhede Stadium groundstaff tests positive for COVID-19

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 set to begin on April 9, 10 Wankhede Stadium groundstaff have tested positive for the highly-infectious COVID-19 in Mumbai on Saturday.

Around six members of the event management team have also tested positive for COVID-19 and have been sent to isolation. As per ANI, the IPL franchises have called for stricter protocols in Maharashtra.

10 Wankhede groundstaff, 6 event managers test positive for COVID-19

"Yes, it was 8 positive cases yesterday as far as ground-staff are concerned. Today two more positive cases have emerged and all 10 have been sent back home and are isolated," a senior Mumbai CA official told PTI.

"We are bringing fresh ground-staff from the Mumbai CA ground in Kandivali for preparations. Also, 6 to 7 event management staff hired by BCCI have also tested positive," he added.

Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium is set to host 10 IPL matches this season from April 10 to April 25, starting with a clash between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings next Saturday.

"Even if there is a lockdown, the teams are in bio-bubble and also it's a closed-door event. So, we are still confident that IPL games in Mumbai will be held as per schedule. But, Hyderabad and Indore are there on stand-by in case the situation goes out of hand," the office-bearer told PTI.

As of now, none of the teams currently in Mumbai — Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings — have access to Wankhede.

Maharashtra reported 47,827 new COVID-19 cases and 202 deaths on Friday with Mumbai registering the highest-ever single day spike of 8,832 new cases.

Stay tuned with the newstrack to get fastest updates. Click @englishnewstrack to follow us on Facebook and @newstrackmedia to follow on Twitter.