IPL 2021 Phase 2: BCCI & franchises to keep close eye on top players: The cancelled 5th Test between India and England at Manchester is all set to have a huge ramification on some of the India stars. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj are identified as close contacts of team physio Yogesh Parmar who tested positive for Covid-19. InsideSport has learnt that BCCI and the franchises will keep a close eye on them before the start of IPL 2021 in UAE.
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IPL 2021: BCCI & franchises to keep close eye on Rohit Sharma, Shami, Ishant, Pujara, Jadeja & Siraj after COVID scare in Manchester, Check why?
Mohammed Siraj was one of the players who attended head coach Ravi Shastri’s book launch in London apart from RCB’s Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma was one of the players who advocated for the cancellation of the match and also was treated by Parmar for niggle in the hamstring will be watched closely.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: BCCI had advised these players to be very careful and stay put in their hotel rooms. As for franchises, they are keeping their fingers crossed about any potential new COVID-19 case in the India camp.
“We will wait for BCCI’s guidelines on this. We just hope that all players are safe and reach UAE safely. If one tests positive, it could have potential effects on the tournament. But they are all fully vaccinated and should not be a problem,” one of the franchise officials told InsideSport.
“The situation is very alarming. Even 1 positive case in Indian team now will jeopardize IPL. All of these players are together, they have to arrive in UAE in one chartered flight. All of them are top players and must for each franchise. God forbid, if one gets positive affected, the entire IPL can be in trouble,” another franchise official declared.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: When asked if the players will be under scrutiny in the UAE considering the country’s stricter rules, the official said it would be according to BCCI’s guidelines.
“See, no players flouted any rules in UK. There were no bio-bubble. Our players understand how to go about a bubble. They have been doing this since the Australia series. We are not concerned by that,” he said.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Why the players may face strict monitoring during IPL?
- The players were advised to stay at their hotel rooms during the series as much as possible.
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- Players didn’t take permission to attend the book launch in London.
- IPL 2021 Phase 1 suspension is still fresh and the BCCI doesn’t want a repeat of the same situation.
- Players may need to spend a 6-day quarantine period in UAE upon arrival.
- BCCI wants to maintain the integrity of bio-bubble at any cost as it has been subjected to a lot of questions in the UK media.
Meanwhile it is also learnt that Chennai Super Kings is planning to get their players Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja & Cheteshwar Pujara fly from Manchester to Dubai on Saturday itself but BCCI is yet to give permissions on the same.
Even the permissions from UK health authorities will also be required in this case.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told ANI that they are trying to get the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur and Cheteshwar Pujara to fly into Dubai on Saturday. “Now that the Test match is off, we are looking to get the CSK boys into Dubai tomorrow,” he said.
While BCCI is unhappy with players and head coach Ravi Shastri attending the book launch in London, they are unlikely to face any disciplinary actions considering there was no bio-bubble in the UK for the first four Tests.
“We are in touch with the team’s medical officials and also with ECB. A decision on flying them out of Manchester will be taken in due course. As of now, they will continue to be in isolation,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
But considering the situation in Manchester, the players could be asked to spend at least six days in quarantine when they land in Dubai. But it will be confirmed later.
When asked if there will be strict monitoring when they land in Dubai, he said: “All will be monitored as per the guidelines. We are in talks with UAE authorities on whether they will need quarantine. But I can’t confirm that now.”
