(Image source from: khaleejtimes.com)

IPL teams have decided to play safe and would leave for Dubai after August 20 and hold their respective camps in UAE.

In the IPL team owners’ meeting that was held on Wednesday, the owners have decided that each IPL team will be in quarantine for 6 days after reaching Dubai. The owners have decided not to take any chance on health. This was told by an IPL franchise officer to the Indian Express.

As per the Dubai government’s rules, an RT-PCR test needs to be done 3 days before the journey and also should take one after reaching the country. Only those tested positive in the tests will be quarantined for 14 days in UAE.

All the team members must download the ALHOSN app of Dubai which is an official platform for testing COVID-19. The team members also want to play safe and hence they have decided to leave to Dubai after August 20.

Every franchise will have to arrange its own bio security and a BCCI-appointed agency will supervise the whole thing.

The meeting on Wednesday by the team owners was held after the VIVO’s departure as the brand partner of IPL. The board is expected to issue a new request for proposal (RFP) to pick a replacement sponsor shortly.

However, it is estimated that the new sponsorship amount would be less owing to the economic distress due to COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in the title sponsorship revenue will affect both the BCCI and the franchises; particularly more affect would be to the franchises as they are unlikely to get any gate receipts.

Revenue from the central pool is basically distributed between BCCI and the franchises in the ratio of 60:40.

Team owners have mutually agreed on restricting their squad strength to 24.

IPL, the most awaited tournament of the year was supposed to be held in India this year but after meticulous calculations from the BCCI and the Indian cricket board, the former has decided to conduct the cricket tournament in the UAE considering the coronavirus pandemic in India. Comparatively, UAE has reported less number of cases and has quickly recovered from the virus.

UAE’s quarantine and travel restrictions are also very stringent which makes it safer for the players to land in the country for their game. The Indian premiere league is all set to kick off from September 19 and the final would be held on November 8.

By Gayatri Yellayi