With the dates for the cash rich Indian Premier League all but locked, franchises are now busy preparing the road ahead for the tournament. Keeping in mind, the COVID-19 pandemic, some teams are contemplating resorts instead of five-star hotels for their players and support staff in United Arab Emirates, according to Times of India. Sunrisers Hyderabad are considering golf resorts. Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, could be based out of Abu Dhabi rather than Dubai according to the report.
Defending champions Mumbai Indian's might rent an entire apartment complex to house their players safely. Some of the franchises believe that resorts are safer as there is fear of COVID-19 spreading through shared AC ducts in hotels. BCCI is yet to share, the SOP for the IPL season. All Indian players and support staff will have to undergo two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests, 24 hours apart, a week before joining the 14-day quarantine period with their respective teams in India.If any individual tests positive, he will go into a 14-day quarantine. After the quarantine, he will be required to undergo two more COVID-19 RT-PCR tests within a space of 24 hours and if they come negative, that person will be cleared to fly to UAE for the IPL beginning November 19.
"All overseas players and support staff also need to undergo two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests before flying in 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," PTI quoted a BCCI official as saying.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 event. The league is expected to commence on Sep 19 with the finals to be played on November 10.
