Pandemic queers the pitch for pro sports

For the BCCI, while the payoffs for hosting the IPL this year are huge, the pandemic and then the border tension with China have complicated the issue

The pandemic has left Indian professional sports in a tough spot. In Europe, however, many professional sports have tentatively restarted without spectators in stadiums, and after making Covid-19-related tweaks — top tier football matches are now played in quarters not halves to enable players to refresh themselves from personal bottles, for example. Formula 1 also held its first race on Sunday without spectators, while England is gearing up to play Tests against West Indies in a self-contained “bubble”. Indian sports, though, continue to be in lockdown. Despite initial criticism, football leagues in Europe have been compelled to restart due to