IPL 2021: Maharashtra government allows teams to train at Wankhede beyond 8 pm despite night curfew in Mumbai

Indian Premier League 2021: In a big boost to the T20 tournament, the Maharashtra government on Monday allowed teams to train beyond 8 pm and travel to their hotel rooms despite the night curfew imposed in Mumbai in the wake of the rise in Covid-19 cases.

The Maharashtra government on Monday gave the green signal for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 matches in Mumbai despite the rise in Covid-19 cases, allowing the teams to practice beyond 8 pm at the Wankhede Stadium. The state government also allowed teams to travel to their respective team hotels from the stadiums despite the night curfew that has been imposed to contain the pandemic. Due to the massive surge of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai and Maharashtra, the state government on Sunday announced 'Break the Chain', under which section 144 and night-curfew from 8 pm to 7 am on weekdays has been imposed on entire Maharashtra, including Mumbai. The guidelines are set to be imposed from Monday evening. However, the Maharashtra government has allowed certain concessions to IPL teams in Mumbai, provided they strictly adhere to bio-bubble and social-distancing protocols. IPL 2021 will get underway from April 9 in Chennai. As many as 4 teams, including Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, will be playing their matches in the first two weeks in Mumbai.