The IPL 2020 will be played in full for the first time in UAE, which last hosted a part of the tournament in 2014. This is because of the rising Coronavirus cases in India, that the BCCI accepted Emirates Cricket Board’s offer of hosting the T20 tournament in the desert cities.
The entire tournament is expected to be played in three venues- Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
The franchises are getting ready with their action plans which requires them to leave for UAE early in August in order to serve the quarantine period and get some much-needed practice there before the league begins on September 19.
Chennai Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni will be the first team to leave for Dubai on 10th or 11th August. Sources in the CSK’s team management told InsideSport that they are gunning for training camp for Mahi’s team before 15th August.
As for the travel arrangements, CSK is looking to charter an entire plane to ferry their squad and other members to UAE and the source said that everything will be done after the itinerary is finalized in the meeting with IPL governing council.
IPL 2020: MS Dhoni and other CSK stars to arrive in UAE by the second week of August, says report
“We are targeting to leave for Dubai with the entire squad by 8th Aug so that training camp can be organized for them before the end of 2nd week. Travel plans will be finalized once we receive instructions for BCCI on Do’s and Don’ts”, said the source involved with the planning in Chennai Super Kings.
He further added, “In the circumstances, we are in, we will explore to book a chartered flight for the team. That will be the safest option in the current conditions”.
Not only CSK but other teams are also planning to organize a 2-3 weeks training camp in Dubai. The proposed training camps will be scheduled around the 1st week of September.
BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal told InsideSport, “Yes, we are aware some of the franchises will be organizing camps in Dubai. It is important, players have not played for so long. Before IPL 2020, they need to get back in the best possible shape. We will have no problems with these camps by the franchises."
“We are still looking for the best possible solution. Nothing is finalized as such. In the coming days, we will decide about it but one needs to understand time at hand is really very short," Dhumal said about the national team's camp.
Apart from Chennai Super Kings, two more franchise officials confirmed their plans for a camp in Dubai prior to the IPL 2020’s commencement.
IPL 2020: IPL governing council to meet on Aug 2; schedule to be finalized
“We are exploring to start our camp on the 5th of September in Dubai. We have also got in touch with our foreign players and all of them are comfortable with the idea to have a training camp in Dubai. That will be the best way to prepare ourselves for IPL 2020”, said IPL franchise official involved with the preparations.
“Players for every team will be short of practice. No matter which part of the world they will be coming from – they will not be in the best shape. Normally we organize our Pre-IPL camps in our franchise territory but in the current situation Dubai, Abu Dhabi will be the best place to have a 2-week camp before the start of IPL”, said CEO of another franchise.
ICC’S state of the art academy in Dubai will be the preferred choice for most of the franchises for their training camps if reports are to be believed.
