Players to undergo at least five coronavirus tests before training in UAE for IPL 2020

The much-awaited T20 extravaganza– IPL 2020– is all set to hit the floors in September this year. The cash-rich league, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, was indefinitely postponed on March 29th. But the wait of ardent cricket fanatics is finally going to end as the tournament is nearing its initiation.

Considering a surge of COVID-19 cases across the country, the thirteenth edition of the IPL is set to take a new route. The tournament, withing a span of two months, will be played in a different venue altogether– UAE.

The Indian board, amid COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to take all the necessary measures to host the cash-rich league amid the pandemic. Indian players and support staff will have to return negative for COVID-19 at least five times before they start training in the UAE. Furthermore, they will be tested every fifth day during the course of the tournament.

A BCCI official, on Tuesday, revealed that all Indian players and support staff will have to undergo two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests, 24 hours apart, a week ahead of joining their respective teams where they will complete a 14-day quarantine.

There will not be any compromise on players’ safety: BCCI official

“Following their arrival in the UAE, the players and support staff will have to return at least three negative tests during a week’s quarantine and if they are negative, they can enter the bio-bubble and start training. There could be minor changes to this protocol depending on the feedback from the teams but there will not be any compromise on players and team officials’ safety,” the official said as quoted by Cricket Next.

During the first week in the UAE, the players and team officials will not be allowed to meet each other in the hotel. They’ll be permitted to meet once they test negative thrice, after which they’ll enter the bio-secure bubble and flag off their training sessions. About the overseas players in the IPL, the official revealed that they will undergo two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests before flying to the UAE.

“All overseas players and support staff also need to undergo two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests before flying to the UAE and can only fly if the tests are negative. If not, then the same 14-day quarantine period and two negative tests to be able to fly to the UAE,” said the official.

The players and support staff will be tested on day 1, day 3 and day 6 of their quarantine in the UAE and after clearing that, they will be tested every fifth day during the 53-day tournament. The BCCI has left it to the teams to decide on the travel of partners and families of the players. But the board has not permitted families to meet anyone outside the bio-secure bubble.

“The families will also not be allowed to enter the PMOA (players and match officials area) and field of play at any time during the training and matches. And anyone who breaches the bio-secure protocols will have to be in self-isolation for seven days and return two negative tests on day 6 and 7 to be allowed to re-enter the bio-bubble,” the official clarified.