COVID-19 Cases in Abu Dhabi Causes Delay in IPL Schedule Announcement - Report
Photo: Collected
|| Desk Report ||
Despite the teams have already reached UAE, the fixture of IPL is yet to come. As per the report in The Hindu, confusion raised over the availability of Abu Dhabi, owing to a spike in COVID-19 cases, and that is the reason for delay from BCCI. Due to the rise of cases, Abu Dhabi’s regional authorities have decided to a rapid test mandatory at the entry point.
Meanwhile, the teams, broadcast crew and other officials, who will be based out of Dubai, will have to go through an additional cost of AED 50. And the BCCI is trying to find a way too. While there were talks going on to exclude Abu Dhabi as a venue, the board has been trying to restrict the number of matches there as well.
“It could be a case of two teams playing home and away games back to back, similar to 2011,” shared an IPL insider. “As of now, Abu Dhabi could host a few matches only in the first half.”
As of now, six teams are based in Dubai, while Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are based in Abu Dhabi as well. On the other hand, teams like Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab will start their training at Sharjah and ICC Academy in Dubai from Thursday.
The tournament will begin from September 19 in the UAE and the 53-day tournament will end on November 10.
"While I am confident that we would be able to deliver a memorable tournament, I will be approaching the start of the tournament with a heavy heart as your absence would render the opening incomplete-," BCCI secretary Shah wrote in an email to state units, which is in possession of PTI.
