Safety is paramount as the BCCI has shifted the 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) to UAE. Therefore, the tournament’s governing council has intimated the franchises and other stakeholders to delay their arrival to the desert country approximately by a week in order to set the COVID-19 protocols in place.
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According to a TOI report, IPL governing council has asked them to travel only by August 20. Apparently, most franchises were planning to get there in the second week of August – between 10th and 15th – and had already started work on travel and accommodation during these dates.
Report also suggests that majority of the franchises are in agreement with the decision. All franchises landing in UAE on the same day will mean creating a bubble from the airport to their respective hotels, which will then be the norm for the next two months of IPL.
“We see logic in BCCI’s decision. They have to put certain protocols in place and coordinate with the UAE government to ensure that they will be followed to the ‘T’. For instance, we’ll be travelling by road between cities – Dubai to Sharjah to Abu Dhabi. So, will we be checked at all departure and entry points? How will two franchises – who have their separate bio-secure bubbles – coordinate with each other’s protocols on match days? BCCI has a lot on its hands and they can expect our full cooperation,” team officials told TOI.
During its meeting, the governing council also set a 24-player limit for each IPL squad and approved the use of COVID-19 substitutes. But teams are expected to fly in more ‘working hands’ keeping in mind they will require net bowlers, fielders during training, general physicians and individuals in other essential categories.
The IPL GC is also set to say “yes” to franchises which want the option of players getting to travel with family members.
“They (players) will be in complete isolation. It can be very depressing. Family members are okay to travel as long as they will be part of the same bio-secure bubble,” sources in the know of developments told TOI.
Meanwhile, the GC has also taken a call to postpone the final of the cash-rich event from November 8 to 10 to give broadcasters Star India an extra two days in the Diwali week.
The afternoon matches will begin at 3:30 PM IST and evening matches will begin at 7.30 PM IST.
