The Indians defy the fury while playing the richest cricket tournament in the world

The Indian Premier League has sparked outrage at playing through the country’s brutal Covid-19 wave, alleging accusations of “cruel” behavior and diverting vital resources from the fight against the public health emergency.

Several players, including Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s first player, and three Australians, left the cricket tournament this week due to concerns about The rise of cases in India.

Infections rose to a world record of 386,000 on Friday, along with 3,500 deaths reported, which experts believe are a significant insufficient number.

Coincidences in the IPL, investing in money cricket league which attracts the best talents in the world, have continued to be celebrated in the capital of New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Cities are among the most affected by the country, facing the acute ones oxygen shortage, tests, ambulances and hospital beds, with patients dying from lack of treatment.

By contrast, players and IPL staff in these cities have been confined to “biosecurity” bubbles, tested regularly, and have access to emergency medical care that critics say should be used to support overflowing health services. Spectatorless games have been played.

The New Indian Express newspaper said this week that it would suspend coverage of the tournament, which it called “commercialism gone.” In an editorial, he wrote that “the lamentations of the ambulances drown out the sound of the skin that meets the sweet point of the willow.”

Australian fast bowler Andrew Tye, among those who came out of the tournament, said he was worried about being trapped abroad by a possible flight ban, which Canberra has imposed since then.

He added that he empathized with critics of the tournament, telling Australia’s SEN radio: “Looking at it from the Indian point of view, how are these companies and franchises and the government spending so much money on IPL when there are people who can’t be accepted to the hospital? “

Gary Lineker, a former English footballer and broadcaster, wrote on Twitter that “seems so terribly wrong for [the IPL] continue in the face of the Covid catastrophe that is currently occurring in India. People die faster than the races that are heard to shout out loud. ”

Since its launch in 2008, the IPL has revolutionized cricket with its fast-paced version of the sport. The tournament, which began this month and ends on May 30, is usually one of the most lucrative events of the year for brands and organizers.

Supporters have countered that the IPL plays a valuable role. The Disney Star-owned station added public service messages to its coverage by encouraging viewers to follow pandemic guidelines, such as wearing masks. “It’s such a good platform for the government to communicate to the masses,” said an executive involved in the tournament.

Pat Cummins, another Australian bowler, donated $ 50,000 to a relief fund set up by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. “Playing every night for three, four hours, hopefully, helps people stay home,” he said. dit. “We can help them get through each day.”

Amid concern over the exodus of foreign players, the Cricket Control Board in India pledged to get them all home at the end of the season despite the countries imposing travel bans is India.

Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister, said there was no special agreement to repatriate IPL players.

Sushant Singh, a senior member of the Center for Policy Research, said the tournament could allow authorities to “show some degree of normalcy” during the crisis.

Indian cricket authorities are close by links with the governing establishment. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is the son of Amit Shah, the Minister of the Interior and the right-hand man of Narendra Modi.

Singh said the tournament should be held in another country, such as the United Arab Emirates, which hosted the IPL last year. “If it kept it in the UAE, it would not cause this diversion of resources,” he said.