Ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to strike off Mohali as a potential venue to host the T20 matches with the hopes of avoiding unwelcomed global media attention due to the ongoing farmers’ protest in the region.

In a report shared by The Indian Express, it has been confirmed that the Indian cricket board feels it will be a “risk” if an agitation broke out around the Mohali stadium.

The Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh urged the BCCI and the Indian national government to rethink their decision to skip Mohali as a potential IPL venue to hold home games for the Punjab Kings franchise. He also went on to assure that the state government would do everything in their behest to provide safety against the coronavirus pandemic.

Surprised at the exclusion of Mohali Cricket Stadium for upcoming IPL. I urge and appeal to BCCI and IPL to reconsider their decision. There is no reason why Mohali can't host IPL and our Government will make all necessary arrangements for safety against #COVID19: Punjab CM pic.twitter.com/wnZzUZ7sgz

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021

“Surprised at the exclusion of Mohali Cricket Stadium for upcoming IPL. I urge and appeal to BCCI and IPL to reconsider their decision. There is no reason why Mohali can't host IPL and our Government will make all necessary arrangements for safety against COVID19,” the Punjab CM was quoted by ANI on Twitter.

However, it seems as if the decision-makers have made up their mind regardless.

“We don’t want a situation to arise where we have an IPL match in Mohali and a farmer agitation march moves towards the stadium. It will attract media attention from all over the world. We don’t want such a situation to arise. Mohali is not among shortlisted venues due to the current scenario in the northern part of India,” a top BCCI official told The Indian Express.

The decision has divided the fans of Indian cricket into two halves: 

Those who believe that the Indian Cricket Board made a tough but correct choice to skip Punjab as a hosting venue, considering the safety of the national and international players who will be participating in the league.

No need to conduct IPL in Mohali looking at the current situation of Punjab it will be not safe for players and visitors. Better avoid Mohali. They might take the stadium as hostage like they did in Delhi. Better avoid it

— Vishwatma (@ashish100686) March 2, 2021

Should BCCI risk player's and public safety by hosting cricket matches in Mohali stadium amid violent protests and seperatist infiltration in Punjab?

— The Poll Lady (@ThePollLady) March 2, 2021

Covid se to safety mil jayegi, but what about goons roaming freely , breaking towers, stealing generators, harassing actors , vandalizing shops? Lol they are threatening police as well.Ghante ka safety
After all this, you expect companies and business groups to invest there?

— Akanksha Sahay (@akanksha_sahay) March 2, 2021

And those who feel that there might just be another reason for the cricket board to overlook Punjab during the most lucrative national cricket session of the year in terms of tourism and sales in local products and how politics has taken over Indian cricket as well.

Shah came to BCCI to bring politics in the game

— Samir Roy (@iSamirRoy) March 2, 2021

Sell mohali Cricket ground once to ambani or adaani then you ll see the magic ..mohali ll host half IPL matches .they are not doing this wd mohali because of safety reasons or covid19 you know very well why they are doing this ..

— ਅਜਾਦ Azaad भारत (@dev90562963) March 2, 2021

If this is not cheap politics, what else could be?

— Faiz_Save_Anna Daata (@Faiz_INC) March 2, 2021

View the full article