The IPL should consider temporary suspension

This picture has been used for representational purpose

This newspaper had argued on April 14 that the Indian Premier League should take cognisance of the unfolding humanitarian disaster in many parts of the country. In the two weeks since, the COVID-19 crisis in India has only worsened.

Criticism against IPL continuing in a literal and virtual bubble has since become harsher. A newspaper from the south dropped its coverage of the tournament. Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra urged cricketers and administrators to not be blind to what is going on outside their bubble.

But officials on Sunday were reported as saying the tournament will continue, as it has a robust bio-bubble. Hours after this tone-deaf response, a couple of more Australian players withdrew from the tournament. India's R Ashwin, too, withdrew saying he wanted to support his immediate and extended family, who he said were battling against COVID-19. Families of a few other players have tested positive in their hometowns.

Those at the helm will, of course, continue to argue that the IPL supports the larger economy in its own way, even as it mints millions to its stakeholders. But can they ignore all the criticism-and signs from within-and go on like nothing has happened?

To be sure, a few changes are noticeable in the last two weeks-the frequency of the ‘stay safe' messages have increased, and you can see more franchise owners and supporters fully masked up. But is that enough?

A better recourse could be to temporarily suspend the tournament. The BCCI and its state bodies could focus their energies and financial firepower in supporting the states where the pandemic is raging unabated. When things begin to look better, the games could resume. The people of this country will be grateful and remember that the game that many of them love stood by them in their greatest hour of need.