The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) management has pulled up a massive move by getting permission to organize a training camp in Chennai, ahead of the franchise’s departure to the UAE in order to prepare for the IPL 2020.
The IPL 13 is scheduled from September 19 and will be played in the UAE entirely in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, with the final on November 10. Ten doubleheaders will be played across the 53-day tournament.
Meanwhile, CSK got the permission of the Tamil Nadu state government to host a camp in the city from August 15. The likes of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, and a few others will fly into the city via chartered flights on August 14 and will hit the nets a day later at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. They are scheduled to leave for Dubai on August 21.
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Other than Mumbai Indians, who have already brought most of their players to Mumbai, none of the other franchises have been able to organize camps in India before they leave for the UAE.
"The players will not have to undergo a two-week quarantine period once they are in Chennai. They will be tested two days prior to coming to Chennai and provided they are COVID-negative, they will be flown in," sources close to the development told TOI.
The players will be confined to their hotel rooms and won’t be allowed to go anywhere else apart from the ground.
"During their stay in the city, the players will be tested twice and they will be flying to Dubai only if they are found COVID-negative," the source added.
It was primarily Dhoni's idea to have a camp in Chennai for the Indian players who have been woefully short of practice. One understands that the CSK management had been trying very hard for the last week to get the necessary permissions.
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"The franchise has promised that all the protocols will be maintained and the decision-makers understood how important it is for the players to get some practice so that they can be competitive. The fact that practice for other sports has also started worked in CSK's favor," the source added.
CSK's bowling consultant L Balaji will be in charge of the camp, given that none of the foreign coaching staff is present in the city.
"Of course, no one will be allowed this time and we are hoping the fans, too, will understand the gravity of the situation and ensure that there is no gathering outside the stadium or team hotel," the source added.
(Times of India inputs)
