IPL 2020: Chennai Super Kings' Pre-season Camp Under Fire As Deepak Chahar Tests Positive For COVID-19: Report
Updated - 29 Aug 2020, 12:54 PM
As soon as reports emerged that members of Chennai Super Kings contingent including a player have tested positive for COVID-19, speculation started as to who the player was. Well, if reports are to be believed then the player who has tested positive for the dreaded virus along with others members is none other than fast-bowler Deepak Chahar.
As per report in The Times of India, the pacer will now have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, and after that will have to test negative for the virus, twice in a span of 14 hours. But despite the recent turn of events, the BCCI has still insisted that there is no immediate threat to the IPL 2020.
“Adequate measures are in place to tackle the situation and there is no immediate threat to the tournament. But the announcement of fixtures has been delayed because of this development,” a top BCCI source told TOI.
Chennai Super Kings face the heat:
Chennai Super Kings are reportedly facing the heat for the holding a pre-season camp in Chennai before leaving for UAE. They had held a camp from August 15 to 20 before leaving the country on August 21. The three-time champions were the only team that underwent a preparatory camp.
The report stated that BCCI officials had cautioned the franchise about holding the camp in the high-risk zone. On the other hand, the Super Kings management believe that the members including Deepak Chahar contracted the virus at the airport.
“Senior BCCI officials had cautioned the CSK management about the risks of holding such a camp in India,” a BCCI source said. “But the CSK management believes that all the players had tested negative for coronavirus before departure, and Chahar might have contracted the virus at the airport.
Another source stated that the franchise decided to hold the camp because several players of the team have not played for a long time. The source also stated that Chennai Super Kings will not ask the BCCI to postpone their games despite starting their training late.
“There are many players who were coming from a long lay-off. The likes of MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina had played very little cricket even before the lockdown in March. That’s why CSK insisted on having the camp, to have a few extra days under their belt.
“It is difficult but the entire team is on the same page. We know we are in a position to absorb this delay and take it in our stride,” a Chennai Super Kings source said. Also, it is believed that CSK will not ask the BCCI to postpone its matches.
“As far as we know, we are playing on September 19 and that’s how we are preparing mentally. Now we are only hoping that no one else tests positive in the next few tests,” the source added.
