Vivo IPL Trophy
Vivo IPL Trophy. Image Credits: Twitter

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved the bubble-to-bubble transfer for Indian players who were involved in the recent ODI and T20I series in Sri Lanka despite a health scare after as many as eight players were forced to isolate after Krunal Pandya tested positive for Covid.

The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League will resume in the United Arab Emirates from September 19 after it was suspended earlier this year due to multiple bio-bubble breaches.

Bubble to bubble transfer will ensure that players will not have to undergo six-day quarantine. A similar exemption has been given to players playing in England, the Caribbean Premier League, and Sri Lanka-South Africa series in Lanka.

“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.” said the BCCI in a 46-page health advisory as quoted by CricBuzz.

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BCCI, IPL, India Team, T20 World Cup 2021
India Team (Image Credit: Twitter)

The exemptions for players plying their trade in England, Caribbean islands was expected but the franchises weren’t sure that those involved in Sri Lanka will get a similar sort of exemption after a recent bio-bubble breach saw three Indian players- Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishanppa Gowtham- test positive for Covid.

The BCCI further made it mandatory for those who aren’t part of any bubble to isolate for six days in their hotel rooms.

“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.” the release said.

The board has also notified the mandatory requirements for those traveling to the UK from the subcontinent.

“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 given the reports of fake vaccination programmes,” 

Overall, 14 bubbles will be created in the United Arab Emirates out of which eight will be for the franchises, three for match-officials and match-management team and three for the broadcast crew.

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”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 sanitized regularly. The drivers of all such vehicles will also be in the respective Bubbles, tested regularly for COVID-19 and undergo temperature,”

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