Thursday’s ISL VIII match between ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters, which was scheduled to be played in Vasco, has been postponed.

“Hero Indian Super League (ISL) has decided to postpone Match No. 66 between Kerala Blasters FC and ATK Mohun Bagan scheduled to be played on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco.

“Assessing the situation based on the advice of the League’s medical team, Kerala Blasters FC are unable to field a team and safely prepare for and play the match.

“Match No. 53 between ATK Mohun Bagan and Odisha FC has been rescheduled to Sunday, January 23, 2022, at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda. Kick-off is at 9:30PM IST. The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, January 8, 2022,” ISL said in a statement on Wednesday.

The buzz is that almost 50 per cent of the Blasters camp has contracted the Covid-19 virus and they were facing an uphill task to field a team. The Blasters management had requested for a postponement.

“There is a Covid-19 outbreak at the Kerala Blasters camp. They have 52-53 members in the hotel and of those around 24 have returned positive till reports last came in,” someone in the know of things told The Telegraph on Wednesday. According to league rules, a match is on if 15 players are available. “I think 15-16 players could have been made available but of those four are goalkeepers,” the person added.

The Blasters are locked in their rooms since their January 12 game against Odisha. Blasters had won 2-0. “The situation would not have gone out of control had the January 12 match been postponed. They would have had a proper quarantine and this outbreak could have been avoided. Players are getting infected on the field and a suspension of the league for some days was the best option,” he added.

The Football Sports Development Limited, which organises the league, in a meeting with the management of the 11 teams on Sunday, refrained from suspending ISL VIII for some days and decided to assess the situation case by case.

ATK Mohun Bagan, whose third match was postponed, returned to training on Tuesday and were ready for Thursday’s game.

Blasters are on top of the league with 20 points from 11 matches, while ATK Mohun Bagan are sixth with 15 points, having played two games fewer.

The postponement will come as a blessing for ATK Mohun Bagan as they get more time to regroup. Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who returned to the Bagan fold after a forgettable stint with Croatian premier division side HNK Sibenik, is still not match-fit and will take a week more to get into the groove. It remains to be seen if coach Juan Ferrando gives the India international some game-time against Odisha FC on January 23. ATK Mohun Bagan though will miss the services of Hugo Boumous who is serving a one-match suspension.