Chennai Super Kings' Players To Travel Without Families For IPL In The UAE

Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). While BCCI has allowed the families of players belonging to all the franchises to accompany them to the UAE, Chennai Super Kings would be an exception. As per a source of Times of India, the three-time champions will travel to the UAE without their families.

Also Read: IPL 2020: MS Dhoni Is Back As Chennai Super Kings Skipper Hits The Nets In Ranchi

The 13th edition of the extravaganza was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the situation in India still grim, the BCCI organised the lucrative competition in the UAE. Due to the threat of catching the deadly virus, it was already forecasted that the families might not travel with the athletes. In the English cricket home season, the players are the only ones to stay within the bio-secure bubble.

A trusted source stated that the decisions have been taken, considering the SOPs, which underlines that the family members should not get close to the players during training and matches. Chennai Super Kings’ have not received permission to interact with anybody outside the bubble. At least for the initial phase, the families would not accompany the players in the UAE.

“The decision has been taken keeping in mind the IPL SOPs which mention that family members can’t get close to the players during training and matches. In fact, the SOP says that players are not allowed to interact with anybody outside the bio-bubble. At least for the initial phase, the families won’t be travelling with the players. No commercial flights are being allowed to fly out so CSK have to arrange for a chartered flight,” the source stated.

Chennai Super Kings might have to do without some foreign players initally:

The three-time champions will have to play their first few games without the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Imran Tahir, Sam Curran, and Josh Hazlewood. The likes of Bravo, Santner, and Tahir will feature in the CPL and if their teams of Barbados Tridents, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Guyana Amazon Warriors make it to the wire, they have to stay back. While the eighth edition of the tournament will go on till the 10th of September, the ODI series between Australia and England would continue till the 16th.

Curran and Hazlewood are expected to feature in the white-ball series, consisting of three T20Is and as many ODIs and would join later. The likes of Shane Watson, Faf Du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi should be available from the start for the Chennai Super Kings. The competition gets underway from the 19th of September and will continue till the 10th of November.