IPL 2021: BCCI Asks 8 Teams To Ensure 2 Doses Of Covid-19 Vaccination For All Players
Aug 6, 2021 at 5:24 PM
IPL 2021 was paused as Covid-19 cases hit the team camps despite the presence of bio-bubble. It was then decided that the remainder of the IPL will be scheduled in the UAE and kick start from September 19.
Keeping an eye on the COVID-19 situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked all eight franchises to ensure that every member travelling to UAE for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) is fully vaccinated before leaving the country. Sources in the know of developments confirmed the same.
IPL 2021 Resumption See BCCI Asking All 8 Franchises To Ensure Every Member Traveling To UAE Is Fully Vaccinated
The BCCI had announced the entire schedule of the remainder of IPL 2021 last month. According to it, in the span of over 27 days, a total of 31 matches will be played. Ahead of the resumption of the tournament, it becomes pivotal that all the players and staff members are vaccinated to avoid any further concerns to the smooth running of the event
“We have been told that all those traveling should have completed taking both the doses of vaccination so that there is no problem once teams reach UAE. The quarantine process is most likely going to be seven days before teams can start training,” the source told ANI.
Last month, the BCCI announced the schedule for the remainder of the IPL 2021 which will be held in the UAE. A total of 31 matches will be played in the duration of 27 days. The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Rohit Sharma is the most successful IPL captain with 5 titles against his name for Mumbai Indians while MS Dhoni has won all the major tournaments of ICC, mainly the 50-overs World Cup in 2011, World T20 title in 2007, and also won the IPL title 3 times with CSK team.
The action will then shift to Abu Dhabi where the Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sharjah will host its first game on September 24 when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Chennai Super Kings. In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 in Abu Dhabi.
Eoin Morgan Of KKR Is Available While Pat Cummins Likely To Miss The UAE Leg
While the BCCI has confirmed that England players will be available for the resumption of the league in the UAE, Australia and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Pat Cummins is likely to miss the UAE leg. He was the most expensive buy in the 2020 IPL Auction after being bagged by KKR for a whopping 15.50 crores.
The pacer has said he hasn’t made an official call on not playing in the IPL 2021 but admitted it will be “tough” to go to UAE and play in the league. Pat Cummins picked 12 wickets in 14 games that included a 4-wicket haul in the 2020 IPL season. He bowled well in IPL 2021 picking 9 scalps in 7 games averaging 26.33 besides scoring 93 runs averaging 31.
“Unfortunately, at this stage, I probably won’t be going to the IPL 2021. I haven’t made an official call on it. But my partner is pregnant and our baby is due in the middle of the IPL 2021. At the moment, there is a travel restriction to get back to Australia, you got to do 2 weeks quarantine,” the Australian fast bowler said on his YouTube channel.
Eoin Morgan has confirmed he will return to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the rescheduled second half of the IPL in the UAE in September-October following the postponement of England’s limited-overs tour to Bangladesh. Jos Buttler, the Rajasthan Royals keeper, however, wasn’t too sure about making the trip to the UAE.
England was due to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Bangladesh in September-October but the ECB and the BCB released statements confirming that they had “mutually decided” to postpone the tour until March 2023.