IPL 2021 in UAE – IPL Franchises getting concerned: The dark clouds of Covid-19 is again hanging on the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). The IPL Phase 2 is yet to start but the concerns in regard to Covid-19 is making everyone very concerned and scared. This time the reason is Covid-19 cases in Indian squad in England. The IPL franchises currently based out in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are getting alarmed and concerned about the situation. Four of the IPL captains, various players from both the teams are currently part of the India vs England test series and the situation in the Indian camp is making franchises very wary.
One of the franchise official based out in Dubai was vociferous in spelling out his fears when InsideSport reached out to him.
“The situation is very alarming. Even 1 positive case in Indian team now will jeopardize IPL. All of these players are together, they have to arrive in UAE in one chartered flight. All of them are top players and must for each franchise. God forbid, if one gets positive affected, the entire IPL can be in trouble”, declared the franchise official.
IPL 2021: Franchises getting very concerned on the situation in England, ‘even 1 positive case in Indian team now will jeopardize IPL in UAE’
IPL 2021 in UAE – IPL Franchises getting concerned: Franchises have been camping in the UAE for close to three weeks now. They in fact have built their own secure bio-bubbles following Covid-19 protocols laid down by the BCCI. The Indian, England and other overseas players from the rest of the world are scheduled to join these bubbles.
RCB captain Virat Kohli, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, Delhi Capitals Rishabh Pant, Punjab Kings leader KL Rahul – all along with 20 others are part of the India & England series.
All these players are supposed to travel to the UAE for the remainder of the IPL, 5 days after the completion of the series. It will be a bubble-to-bubble transfer and the players will travel in a chartered aircraft to Dubai.
The BCCI’s own IPL-related Covid protocols suggest that those travelling from the UK will have to be part of a strict bubble that will move from one country to another and ‘merge’ with the respective franchise bubbles.
Franchises are concerned, if one of these players get infected with Covid-19, the entire crew will get exposed to the virus.
IPL 2021 in UAE – IPL Franchises getting concerned, all eyes on close contacts of Physio Yogesh Parmar
What’s making franchises and players concerned? The underlying fear is that Indian team members who came in contact with physio Yogesh Parmar can be at risk.
It is worth noting that before Parmar was tested positive, he was working very closely with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami & Ishant Sharma. All these players were carrying some niggles and were closely treated & handled by the physio.
Franchises and the players themselves believes that they could develop symptoms or return positive tests during the match.
Generally, in Covid cases, the gestation period is probably a week or so and that often makes for test results turning positive after a good 72 to 96 hours.
The players have other fears too. They are apprehensive that their families can also get affected by the virus. According to some of the players, it is important to be very cautious & careful at this stage instead of attaching too much of importance to play the test match.
All of these close contacts will be closely watched, tested over next few days before they can join IPL jamboree in UAE. But overall fear, apprehensions & questions is what IPL 2021 Phase 2 in UAE is clearly gripped with.
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