NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League, the world's richest Twenty20 cricket tournament, was suspended on Tuesday and its players sent home as India battles a massive surge in coronavirus cases.

The move, which follows growing controversy over the competition, comes a day after two players - Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier - tested positive, forcing a match to be postponed.

"The Indian Premier League Governing Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone (the) IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect," a statement from organisers said.

"The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL," it added.

The Chennai Super Kings added in a statement Tuesday that its bowling coach L. Balaji and a member of the side's travel support staff tested positive after undergoing tests in India's capital New Delhi on Sunday.

The side's batting coach, Australian Michael Hussey, has also tested positive, The Times of India reported late Tuesday, citing a source. The newspaper added that his samples were being retested.

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