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Xtra Time Web Desk: In what comes as a huge relief for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL, Maharashtra Government has given a conditional permission for the IPL 2021 matches to be staged at the Wankhede Stadium. A total of 10 league games are supposed to take place at the Wankhede from April 10-25.

According to Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik , “IPL & BCCI will have to strictly follow all norms and conditions set by Maharashtra Government.”

The matches will be played behind closed doors with no crowds to be allowed inside the stadium.  

“The permission has been given for the matches with restrictions, the crowd would not be allowed to enter the stadiums. Whoever is participating in the IPL, would have to stay at one place in isolation. There can be no overcrowding, we have made this clear and on this basis, we have given the permission,” Malik told news agency ANI.

Malik’s confirmation comes a day after it was announced that Maharashtra would be entering weekend lockdown from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 pm to curb the spread of Covid-19. 

On Sunday, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had also confirmed that everything will go on as per schedule in the 14th edition of the IPL.

The first match at the Wankhede stadium will be played on April 10 between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.

Four franchises — Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals have set up their base in Mumbai as of now.