The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to allow bubble-to-bubble transfer for those involved in the recently-concluded Sri Lanka-India white-ball series for the unfinished leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite a health scare during the tour Nine Indian players had to miss a couple of matches and go into isolation either for testing positive or having been identified in contact-tracing exercise.
The 2021 edition of the IPL, which had to be suspended in May because of bubble breaches in a couple cities, is set to resume on September 19. An approved transfer from one bubble to another exempts the players from six-day quarantine. A similar exemption has been given to players playing series in England, Caribbean Premier League and those participating in South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka.
In a 46-page health advisory, issued on Friday (August 6) and seen by Cricbuzz, the BCCI said, “Players and team support staff coming directly from the Bubble created for the England vs. India series, Sri Lanka vs. South Africa series and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) may be permitted to join the franchise squad without serving the mandatory quarantine period, provided they satisfy the below mentioned criteria. Commentators and broadcast crew who are working on the above three series’ can also avail Bubble to Bubble transfers provided they satisfy the criteria.”
The bubble transfers from the CPL and England-India series in UK were expected but the franchises were not sure if the same provision would be granted for those coming from the Sri Lanka-South Africa series after Krunal Pandya had tested positive, followed by positive Covid-19 tests for Yuzvendra Chahal and K Gowtham, and mid-series isolation for six other players. Sri Lanka will host South Africa for three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals from September 14.
BCCI has also said that those who are not a part of any bubble will have to undergo a six-day quarantine. “All franchise team members must quarantine in their hotel room for 6 full days before entering the Bubble. Upon arrival and before commencing any group training activities, all team members who will be included in the Bubble will follow the below mentioned COVID-19 RT-PCR testing plan. A nasopharyngeal swab will be taken for testing. Test reports are available within 8-12 hours after sample collection.”
A special requirement has been notified for those who are travelling to UAE from the sub-continent. “For passengers arriving from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, it is mandatory that the COVID-19 PCR report includes a QR code linked to the original report for verification purposes. The QR code must be presented at check-in and to representatives of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) upon arrival in Dubai airports.” This is understandably in view of the reports of fake vaccination programmes.
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The BCCI said that 14 bubbles will be created, including eight for the franchises, three for the match officials and match management team and three more for the broadcast commentators and crew. Further, the advisory stated, “During the IPL 2021, members within a Bubble must travel only in the dedicated vehicles from a fleet of buses and cars accredited by BCCI, which will be sanitised regularly. The drivers of all such vehicles will also be in the respective Bubbles, tested regularly for COVID-19 and undergo temperature screening.”
The BCCI also issued a warning to those breaching bubble protocols saying, “Breach of any Bio-Secure Environment protocols by franchise members or their families will be subject to disciplinary action by the BCCI.”
Source – Cricbuzz
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