MCA defers T20 tournament on humanitarian grounds due to COVID

Photo for representational purpose. Picture Courtesy/iStock

Despite getting BCCI's nod to conduct the T20 Mumbai tournament immediately after the Indian Premier League, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to defer their franchise-based tournament indefinitely due to the COVID-19 situation in the city.

In a joint statement on Thursday morning, Dr Vijay Patil (MCA president) and Milind Narvekar (Chairman-Governing Council T20 Mumbai League), stated: "In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country and keeping in mind the safety and interests of all the stakeholders involved, the Mumbai Cricket Association has decided to defer the conduct of 3rd edition of the T20 Mumbai League till further notice."

The MCA was planning to conduct the tournament from the first week of June.

"When so many people in the country are affected due to the pandemic, there's scarcity of oxygen and vaccines are going out of stock everywhere, it is not prudent to hold a meeting for organising a cricket tournament in such times. So, on humanitarian grounds, we have decided to defer the tournament till situation comes back to normalcy," Narvekar told mid-day.

Apart from Mumbai, other state cricket associations like Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra and Karnataka have also been given the nod by the BCCI to conduct their intra-state T20 tournament.

Will they follow suit, remains to be seen.