BCCI permits bio-secure bubble transfer for IPL 2021

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is leaving no stone unturned in safeguarding the health and safety of all parties involved as the Indian Premier League (IPL) prepares to resume in the United Arab Emirates on September 19. Despite a health crisis in which as many as eight players were compelled to isolate after Krunal Pandya tested positive for Covid, they have cleared the bubble-to-bubble transfer for Indian players who participated in the last ODI and T20I series in Sri Lanka.

The Indian board has sent a 46-page health advisory to each IPL stakeholder, emphasising the importance of adhering to the norms. Players will not be subjected to a six-day quarantine if they transfer from bubble to bubble. Players in England, the Caribbean Premier League, and the Sri Lanka-South Africa series in Lanka have all received similar exemptions. Before entering the bio-bubble, all franchises will have to quarantine for six days. The board has chosen to create 14 bio-bubbles, 8 of which will be owned by franchises.

The board has also made it clear that everyone in the bubble must travel in designated cars exclusively, and that everyone must adhere to this rule to the letter. Before and after arriving in the UAE, the Doping Control Personnel (DCP) will complete the same social distancing and testing protocols as the franchise teams. The Bio-Secure Environments guidelines will also apply to DCP, and a separate Bio-Secure bubble will be built for them.

The general public, including members of the media, will be denied access to the bubble facilities and stadiums for any purpose. Furthermore, each agency and venue involved will conduct a risk assessment of their environment and associated processes, just as they would normally. These are some of the guidelines laid down in the health advisory issued by BCCI.