Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Ness Wadia reckons that the IPL can avoid crowds in the initial part of the 14th edition and also wants to know from the BCCI that why his team’s base in Mohali has not been picked among the potential venues for the 2021 edition despite the city having a low COVID-19 caseload. BCCI has decided to shortlisted Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai, but the final call is yet to be taken. Mumbai was in the mix too but the spike in COVID cases means that IPL games are unlikely to be held there.

Talking about the same as per the quotes in PTI, Wadia said, “We have written to the BCCI to find out under what criteria they have selected the venues and why they have not selected us. We were hoping to have games in Punjab. Some of the teams will not have home advantage, those are the concerns. The cases in Chandigarh and Mohali are not that much, I don’t know on what basis they have shortlisted the venues.”

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The 2020 edition of the IPL was held in the UAE in empty stadiums but there is a possibility that the upcoming edition at home will allow spectators with the COVID situation improving drastically since the last IPL.  The current India-England Test series too is being played in front of limited fans.

However, Wadia feels IPL is a much tougher challenge logistically compared to a bilateral series and crowds can be avoided at least initially due to safety concerns.

The co-owner of the franchise said, “I think it would better to have no crowd initially and then evaluate the COVID-19 situation as the event progresses. There is no question that the IPL is tougher to organize than a bilateral series. We want whatever is best and safe for the players and the bio-bubble”

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He further added, “We are disappointed (not being one of the venues) and I am sure our fans will be too. We have heard on this from BCCI verbally but there is no written communication yet. We would like to know their venue selection criteria.”