Australia And England Players Likely To Play All The Matches Of IPL 2020

The chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has announced a piece of encouraging news ahead about the Australian and English players ahead of IPL 2020. Despite both country’s athletes in the mix for the limited-overs series, it remains likely that all the players will feature in all the matches of IPL. The white-ball series ends on 16th September, beginning on 2nd while the competition in the UAE commences from 19th.

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As many as 29 players from Australia and England will partake in the IPL across eight franchises. The most severely affected would be Rajasthan Royals, who have the likes of Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Steve Smith, Tom Curran and Ben Stokes in their ranks. The franchise’s COO Josh McCrum has claimed that they are not worried about their players missing few matches; however, the safety protocols need to be fully abided by.

Sanjeev Churiwala stated that for the players arriving on the 17th after the white-ball rubber in England, they are quite close to our matches. The BCCI has issued a detailed SOPs, which strictly states that players can participate without isolation, provided they are already under stringent environments. It claims that the players have to stay in the bio-secure bubble even after completing the series and move straight to the chartered flight without violating any protocols.

“For the players landing after the England and Australia series, on September 17, that is very close to our matches. The BCCI have also issued very detailed SOPs and procedures to be followed by these players in terms of their participation. What the SOPs say very clearly [is] that they can participate without quarantine, provided they satisfy certain very stringent conditions. And they’re very, very stringent. Very clearly after the players have played the [international] series, they have to continue to be in the biosecure bubble. Right from the biosecure bubble, they have to go straight to the charter flight without getting into the extensive migration procedures, and without getting in touch with the general public,” Churiwala stated as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

For England and Australia players, it will be an extended bio-secure bubble when they land: RCB Chairman

Sanjeev Churiwala claimed that all these players would be commuting by charter flights. They will have to undergo all the tests before arrival, which would determine their match-fitness. If not fit, they have to go through another three rounds of Tests before partaking. Sanjeev added that given that they would already remain in the bio-secure atmosphere in England, it will be an extended version of it. Furthermore, BCCI or no franchise wants to skip any safety procedure.

“All these players will be travelling by exclusive charter flights. They will undergo tests before arrival and if everything is [fine], they’ll be fit to play the game. If not, of course, they will have to quarantine and have to undergo three rounds of tests before participating. Given that they [the group from the England-Australia series] are already serving a bio-bubble requirement, it will be an extended bio-bubble for them as and when they land. Under no circumstances are BCCI or franchise owners saying we will compromise on the procedures. I am very clear,” he elaborated.

Churiwala went on to say that barring English and Australian athletes, all others will be available right from the start. They will have to check their matches and arrival schedules once more and hope they don’t breach any bio-secure protocols, ensuring their availability as they start their opening matches.

“Barring English and Australian players, most of players would be available on time for the games. We’ll have to see the exact schedule of the matches and to what extent our English, Australian players can participate. We just hope they don’t breach any of the bio-bubble procedure requirements, so that they can make themselves available as and when we start our first match,” Sanjeev added further.

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