The Delhi Capitals Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) Colonel Vinod Bisht today confirmed that he has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to vaccinate against Covid-19, players and staff related to the upcoming IPL.
Stating that this edition of the IPL is going to be in a caravan format (many teams trave to together to a particular centre) makes it all the more important for vaccination, Bisht said, "It (vaccination) has been on top of our mind, especially in a scenario like the one we have this year where the IPL is in caravan model and we have to travel from one city to another. We made a request to the BCCI, I am pretty sure that the BCCI would have also put that request to the government, which I am not aware of.”
The DC CEO further said that the Indian government too would be aware of the issue at hand and would be more than welcome to initiate the plan. “I am sure the government has a priority which is set in. The Olympic athletes are the top priority and certainly, I feel the government will recognise that an event (IPL) of this nature requires that protection."
However, BCCI on the other hand has denied prioritising the vaccination program for people involved in the upcoming IPL. Rather it has denied any vaccination plan for the IPL players and staff.
"The vaccination program against COVID-19 is underway in India and vaccines are currently being administered to the at-risk population viz. front-line workers, health care professionals, people over the age of 60 years and those between the ages of 45-59 years who have comorbidities like cardiac ailments, diabetes, cancer, etc. Until most of the population is vaccinated and immune to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, precautions will need to be taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the community," Cricbuzz quoted BCCI’s stand on Covid-19 vaccination in a note accessed by it.