BCCI to spend around Rs 10 crore for more than 20,000 COVID-19 tests during IPL 2020

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is finally hitting floors on September 19, and preparations are going on in full swing. The expenses of conducting the cash-rich league amid raging pandemic have grown manifold because of several tests and security measures. The bio-secure bubble is in place, COVID tests have to be conducted every few days. As per reports, BCCI has budgeted nearly 10-crores for more than 20,000 tests to be conducted during the course of the entire IPL 2020.

The franchises bore the cost of all the testings in India while the BCCI is all set to bear the expense which will occur in UAE. The Indian cricket board is the richest in the world cricket and has been putting its resources well now for the well being of players in the deadly pandemic. BCCI has picked up the tab for the RT-PCR tests conducted from August 20 i.e when teams landed UAE.

“We have engaged VPS Healthcare, a UAE based company to conduct the tests. While I can’t put a number, it will be more than 20,000 tests, which would include everyone. Each test would cost BCCI around 200 AED (Dirham) excluding taxes,” a senior IPL official said as quoted by Outlook.

“So BCCI will be spending something in the tune of Rs 10 crore for the COVID tests. Around 75 healthcare workers who are part of the company are a part of the IPL testing process.”

We couldn’t have taken the risk, says BCCI official

The BCCI doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned in having the best safety measures for players and officials of IPL. They have travelled far from the families, and hence their safety is of utmost importance. To maintain the same, healthcare workers have been allotted separate hotels by BCCI.

“We couldn’t have taken the risk. A separate bio-bubble has been created by the company in a hotel. Around 50 of its health care staff are attached to the testing process while another 25 are engaged in lab and documentation work. A total of 1988 COVID tests were carried out between August 20–28 across all those involved with the tournament, including players and support staff,” the official further said.