Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (Credits: Twitter)

Defending champions Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are yet to get the permission to start their training for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League from Friday. Both the teams have completed their mandatory six-day quarantine in UAE but are made to wait because of the new Covid-19 restrictions in Abu Dhabi.

Both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders have picked their bases in Abu Dhabi while the other six teams are based in Dubai. And while the other teams are all set to start their training after the mandatory quarantine period, there is little clarity over Mumbai and Kolkata. The teams might need to be in quarantine for 14 days instead of 6.

Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians are the defending IPL champions (Credits: BCCI)

Both the sides landed in Abu Dhabi on August 21. The BCCI’s recce team led by IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel and acting CEO Hemang Amin are in UAE to hold discussions with local authorities. Abu Dhabi authorities have introduced stricter measures after sudden spike in coronavirus cases which has made things tough for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.

The new set of guidelines issued by Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, effective from Thursday, says: “Entry will be allowed within 48 hours of receiving a negative PCR test result, or with a negative DPI laser test result accompanied by a negative PCR test result received within 6 days. The Committee states that the same type of test cannot be taken twice in a row within 6 days.”

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The new rule has made things complicated for BCCI officials. According to The New Indian Express, the BCCI officials believe it will be too much to expect relaxations when even locals have to follow protocols. In fact, the BCCI officials are not expecting any exceptions for them which could be a big blow for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.

The report also stated that the Indian cricket board might seek help from the Indian government. The franchises, on the other hand, are all set to ask some questions to the BCCI when all the parties meet. Teams are saying BCCI didn’t inform them about different quarantine rules in the three cities when the standard operating procedures were released.

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