The Indian cricket board which was adamant on continuing with the cash-rich IPL were forced to buckle down after players from almost half the teams got infected with the virus (“Please come home straight away, Warner’s daughter makes touching plea,” May 5, Gulf Today).

While the plea by the daughter of Hyderabad player and Australia opener Warner urging his father “Please daddy come home straight away. We miss you a lot and love you,” is touching, one can fathom the pain of the relatives and family members of the thousands who have been dying daily outside the precincts of the bio-bubbles hosting the ‘entertainment’. I am surprised as to how the organizers continued to bat for the tournament while people all around were gasping for dear life.

That apart, the postponement of the tournament at the halfway stage will also impact the hosting of the T20 World Cup which is slated to be played in India later in October. The UAE which hosted the IPL under similar conditions last year, is shortlisted for the World Cup should India not be in a condition to organize it.

While Australians players and officials are in a very tight spot because of the ban imposed on travellers from India, including its own citizens, from entering the country until May 15, the situation is none better for other foreigners.

As of India, the need of the hour is to help Indians fight the virus. All else should wait.

Preetu Nambooda
By email