IPL 2020: England, Australia players won't require quarantine in UAE, says RCB chairman
RCB Chairman Sanjeev Churiwala said that England and Australia players may be exempted from the one-week quarantine mandated for all participants of the IPL.
In Short
- England, Australia cricketers need not undergo quarantine in UAE to enter IPL 2020 bubble: RCB chairman
- England-Australia players will need to follow strict protocols as per BCCI SOPs: RCB chairman
- RCB Chairman confirmed AB de Villiers, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn will join RCB on August 22
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) chairman Sanjeev Churiwala said that the players from England and Australia will not be required to undergo a six-day quarantine in the UAE to enter the IPL 2020 bubble as they will be joining from a safe environment.
As many as 29 players from Australia and England will be participating in the IPL across eight franchises. As per the UAE government, players from both countries will need to furnish COVID-19 negative test certificates issued no more than 96 hours before departure.
Churiwala also mentioned that as per IPL 2020 SOPs, the players traveling from the England-Australia series will need to follow strict protocols.
"It is very clear from BCCI SOP that each and every player has to go through quarantine (in UAE). However, the players from England and Australia would already be in a bio-bubble as they would be playing the series there," Churiwala said in a media interaction on the eve of his team's departure to the UAE.
"If they continue to remain in that bio-bubble and we can send a charter plane then they are as secure as other payers.
"But they will have to go through COVID testing procedures after landing. It will be more stringent in their case. There will be no compromise on safety," added Churiwala.
RCB Chairman Sanjeev Churiwala also confirmed that AB de Villiers, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn will fly out of South Africa this weekend and join the team on Saturday. As far as the camp is concerned, the contracted South Africa players in the IPL will be free after August 22 and they might reach the UAE only after that.
"We wanted an exclusive facility in the center so the players have short travel time (between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) and there is 100 percent compliance of the bio-bubble.
"We have booked the entire block which has 155 rooms with exclusive facilities like team rooms, gym and dining. All the hotel staff will also be tested to ensure more safety," Churiwala said.
Considering that the family members too strictly need to adhere to the tournament protocols, not many RCB players are traveling with their kids and companions this time.
"It is a personal choice of the players but as far as I know, most of the players are not traveling with families. If they do, they will strictly have to follow the BCCI SOP," Churiwala added.