IPL 2021: The IPL 2021 was suspended after a lot of players were found to be Covid-19 positive. Players lie Adam Zampa had complained of the bio-bubble in IPL not being full-proof. In this article, we will look at the reasons for the breach of IPL's bio-bubble that led to the mishandling of the situation.
IPL bio bubble was breached for several reasons but one of the prime reasons was BCCI's insistence that they can manage on its own, cut costs, and their trust in India-based companies. Below are some point-wise reasons why IPL had to be suspended after playing only 29 matches.
1) Last IPL bio bubble was managed by Restrata, a professional company well versed in trackable devices and biosecure solutions. This time, IPL decided to go desi and managed a biosecure bubble of its own by listing down its set of hospital vendors and testing labs to replicate the process
2) Air travel was the biggest issue in a multi-city venture. It is learnt that Saha, Balaji, and Mishra got positive while travelling from Mumbai to Delhi coming through the airport terminus. Teams had demanded tarmac access for state govt which was denied and thus ran the risk of being exposed. There was no air travel in UAE.
3) the FOBs, a tracking device is worn by players all the time was faulty. It was purchased from a Chennai based company that couldn't track the movement, hence forcing BCCI to only make assumptions on where and how they could have contracted.
4) Testing and quarantine protocols were not good enough for members outside the bubble but essential for running of the tournament. Groundsmen, hotel staff, ground catering, net bowlers, DJ, drivers testing process wasn't robust as last time. Also, multi cities mean a more enlarged cluster of people who kept changing. There were too many loopholes inside the bubble testing process unlike the one in UAE.
5) Hotel where teams were booked or reserved for the entirety of the tournament. in certain cities, rooms in between teams travel back and forth to the city, were given to other guests.
6) Each franchise created its own bubble for its own members and staff, instead of a central protocol.
7) Last but not least, BCCI determination to keep the IPL in India and not take it abroad despite clear requests from franchises and even the IPL governing council.