IPL franchises await the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from the BCCI to combat the COVID-19 threat, as the league's governing council meets in a few days to discuss major topics related to the shifting of IPL 2020 in UAE.
The BCCI has been given a new window in September-November to organise the league in these trouble times by the postponement of the T20 World Cup.
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Subsequently, given the pandemic is peaking here, the Indian board has sought government permission to shift the IPL 2020 to UAE, where one-third of its 2014 edition has previously been played.
"There will be three principal points on the agenda and that will primarily be discussed as and when the GC meets," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
The primary points are as follows:-
1) Shifting to UAE, dates, venues, matches
The BCCI will inform the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in the Middle East once all the necessary government approvals are received.
There is no plan to curtail the tournament, given the money at stake for everyone involved.
"As far as I know, they are not curtailing the tournament. We will have all the 60 matches in the old format where teams play 14 games," a senior official of one of the popular franchise said, as quoted by PTI.
Further, the duration of the tournament could vary from 44 to 48 days, depending on the number of double-headers. In the original schedule, there was the arrangement for five such Sundays. Now though, that could very well change, with the need to finish the league inside a shortened window.
2) SOP for teams, bio-bubble, training facilities
Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi) and the Sharjah ground are the three main playing grounds in UAE.
For training of all eight teams, the BCCI could rent the grounds of the ICC Academy, which has two full-sized cricket grounds along with 38 turf pitches, 6 indoor pitches, a 5700 square foot outdoor conditioning area, and available physiotherapy and medicine centres.
"The teams that will be stationed in Dubai can practice at the ICC Academy by paying a fee," the senior official said.
The teams staying in Abu Dhabi (one and half hours from Dubai) can train there.
There won't be too many net bowlers allowed in case teams have sufficient extra players in the squad.
According to the report in PTI, "In Dubai, as per the current health protocol, if people are carrying a negative COVID-19 test report, there won't be any need for quarantine but if they are not, they will have to undergo a test."
"Also there is DXB app (similar to Arogya Setu) in India which players and officials need to download."
"While it is not possible to create a bio-bubble that England created for the visiting West Indies team making hotels (Hilton Group) part of the stadium premises in Southampton and Old Trafford, the measures will be strict."
A franchise official informed that the hotels where they'll be staying in will be communicated regarding the need to properly sanitize the area for players' safety.
"The hotels where we book rooms, the floors that will have our team members will be sanitized areas and that will be done in consultation with hotel authorities," the official said.
Most of the franchises will be flying out from the fourth week of August if the commercial flights are allowed. They all want a month-long training camp before the tournament kickstarts.
3) Issues with broadcaster
Duration of the tournament will be the major topic of discussions with the host broadcaster Star Sports, which signed a whopping five-year deal of Rs 16,347 crore with the board that runs until 2022.
Timings of the night matches will be thought through, given that will have to be adjusted to the Indian timings in UAE. Usually, a night match in IPL starts at 8 pm as per the IST (6:30 pm in Dubai). But the authorities are contemplating the option of pushing that back by half an hour.
Double-headers may be increased, but not significantly, something the broadcasters wouldn't mind.
(Inputs from PTI)
