Reports: CSK not keen on players’ families travelling to the UAE for IPL 2020

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to get underway on Saturday, September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tournament was set to be played in India earlier in March, but the COVID-19 pandemic made sure that it had to be moved to the UAE. With around one and half months left for the start, a number of questions remains to be answered.

One of the queries the teams have is to what extent the players’ families will be allowed in the UAE during the T20 tournament. When the IPL takes place in India, the WAGs of the cricketers are seen, cheering for their loved ones from the stands and hospitality boxes. However, bearing in mind the current scenario surrounding the coronavirus, that might not be the case in the UAE.

CSK not willing to take risks

As per reports in Indian Express, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has left the decision of family members to the franchises. Once the Indian players reach the UAE, they will have to remain in a bio-secure bubble. Same goes for a family member of a player. It’s been learned that barring a couple of franchises, the others are not willing to take any kind of risk.

If reports are to be believed, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won’t be allowing any family member of support staff being part of the cash-rich league. It means that if MS Dhoni, the Super Kings’ skipper, plays in the tournament, then his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva may not travel to the UAE.

Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli’s wife, may not be travelling to the UAE either. The Dhoni-led CSK are planning to reach the UAE by August 8 and start their training camp by the end of second week of August. It remains to be seen how things pan out as far as the other franchises are concerned.

Earlier, Ness Wadia, the co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), said that there should be daily testing for COVID-19. Reportedly, the players have been asked to get themselves tested. According to reports, the players will be asked to self-isolate themselves if they go outside the bubble.