IPL 2021: Bio-bubble In The UAE Was Successful As Teams Stayed At One Hotel From Start To Finish, Says Former Indian Cricketer Surinder Khanna

Former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna has opened up about the reasons why IPL 2020 was successful in UAE. Surinder Khanna was part of the IPL governing council during last season. His comments came after IPL 2021 was suspended by BCCI after being hampered by Covid-19. The players were tested positive for Covid-19 due to which BCCI had to suspend IPL 2021 season with immediate effect on Tuesday (May 4).

BCCI was conducting IPL 2021 in India at a time when Covid-19 cases were surging. BCCI managed to conduct 29 matches, however, after some players got infected by Covid-19, BCCI has to postponed matches. When news of more cases in the teams emerged, BCCI cancelled the whole tournament for the safety of players and others.

Notably, IPL governing council had proposed BCCI to shift IPL 2021 to the UAE instead of India ahead of the tournament.

Surinder Khanna Explains Reasons For Successful Tournament in UAE

Former Indian wicket-keeper Surinder Khanna said that UAE a better option for IPL 2021 than India. Last year, IPL 2020 was conducted in UAE and was very successful.

“This is not to blame anybody. In these few months, the situation has become worse, not better. Even if you look at the financial angle, will your profits double by conducting it here?” asked Surinder Khanna.

Khanna, who has also played for Delhi at the domestic level, said that bio-bubble in UAE was successful because players stayed at only one hotel throughout the tournament.

“Why it (bio-bubble) was successful in United Arab Emirates is because the teams were staying at one hotel from start to finish, in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

They were playing matches only at three grounds, and all the people were in the bio-bubble. What have we done here? We shifted the bio-bubble, taking it to different venues. Immediately after that, the cases have started coming,” Surinder Khanna said.

Khanna also said that if BCCI wanted to conduct IPL 2021 in India, they should have gone for only one venue Mumbai since it was multiple cricket grounds to conduct matches.

“You have brought the matches to Delhi. What is the condition in Delhi? I wish I was on IPL GC, I would have convinced them. If you want to host in India, Mumbai is the place.

“You have three grounds, Wankhede Stadium, DY Patil and Brabourne. In case you need another ground, you can go to Pune, like we were driving from Dubai to Abu Dhabi—120-130 miles,” Surinder Khanna further said.

After the suspension of IPL 2021, BCCI has the responsibility to send all the players, support staff, and participants safely to their homes. Australian players will find trouble returning to their homes as the Australian government has banned international flights from India till May 15. Moreover, Australian citizens who have visited India recently are blocked from entering the country.