IPL 2021: Franchises to pool in charter plane for players in CPL, SL vs SA

IPL 2021 – Players in SL vs SA Series to serve two-day quarantine: In which comes as good news for franchises, the BCCI has cleared the air on the quarantine process for players joining IPL bio-bubble from CPL 2021 and SL vs SA series. Both sets of players coming from the CPL and SL vs SA series will need to serve two-day quarantine instead of a mandatory six-day and the franchises will be bringing them in two separate charter flights.

The confusion was regarding Sri Lanka’s Covid status in UAE. Although BCCI had convinced UAE authorities on bubble-to-bubble transfers without needing to go through quarantine, since Sri Lanka is still on the UAE’s red-list, the plan didn’t materialise. Instead, the players, who are fully vaccinated will now need to self-isolate for two days and will be available from the first match.

IPL 2021: Sigh of relief for franchises, players in SL vs SA series, CPL will only serve two-day quarantine in UAE

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“The players coming in from the bubbles in CPL and from the SA-SL series will undergo two days of isolation. They will come in and go into their rooms on the first day, they will then get tested the next day and once the results come in, they will join the squad members in the bubble,” a source told ANI.

Earlier, InsideSport reported that franchises with players from SL vs SA series were confused over the mandatory quarantine period while BCCI was also waiting for confirmation on the matter. However, the air has now been cleared. The likes of Quinton de Kock (MI), Tabraiz Shamsi (RR), Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB), David Miller (RR) and others will now be available from the first game. Only Lungi Ngidi has already arrived and is now in six-day isolation.

As for other players, two sets of charter planes will bring them to UAE with all the franchises with players from South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies pooling together.

“The teams have decided to pool in and get the players to UAE from the CPL as well as Sri Lanka. While one charter plane will carry the players from CPL, one will carry players who participated in the Sri Lanka-South Africa series in the Island Nation,” ANI reported.

IPL 2021: Sigh of relief for franchises, players in SL vs SA series, CPL will only serve two-day quarantine in UAE

Earlier, a franchise official told InsideSport that they were still searching for answers for the quarantine process for the players in SL vs SA series.

“We are in talks with BCCI over the status of the players’ quarantine for the Sri Lanka vs South series. We expected them to directly join the bubble as they are currently in a bio-secure environment in Sri Lanka. But the red-list has created confusion and we have approached BCCI for clarity,” one franchise official told InsideSport.

Why the Players involved in SL vs SA Series were doubtful for first three matches?

As per current norms, all travellers from Sri Lanka must serve a 6-day quarantine upon arrival in UAE.
Chennai Super Kings’ Lungi Ngidi who was part of the ODI series in Sri Lanka arrived in UAE on September 9 and is currently serving the mandatory quarantine.
As many as 8 players who are yet to arrive in UAE and are expected to reach the UAE tomorrow.
From South Africa, Quinton de Kock will be featuring for Mumbai Indians in the first match on September 19 against Chennai Super Kings.
But with two-day quarantine, all players will be available from the first match.

“We expect the players to join the bio-bubble directly but we are yet to get a confirmation on their quarantine status. Since, they are arriving in charter flight, it may not be necessary and will be available from the first match. But we can’t confirm that at this point,” another franchise official told InsideSport.

Also Read: IPL 2021: RCB’s 1st game vs KKR on Monday, Captain Virat Kohli’s special WhatsApp chat with Sri Lanka’s wonder spinner Hasaranga

IPL 2021: Players in SL vs SA series

Anrich Nortje (DC)

Kagiso Rabada (DC)

Aiden Markram (PBKS)

Tabraiz Shamsi (RR)

Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB)

Dushmantha Chameera (RCB)

David Miller (RR)

Quinton de Kock (MI)

Lungi Ngidi (CSK, already reached UAE)

IPL 2021: When InsideSport reached out to BCCI, an official said although the bubble-to-bubble transfer is happening for CPL 2021, the same is yet to be approved by the UAE authorities for the contingent coming from Sri Lanka. However, he said that there will be clarity on the matter by tonight before the players take the charter flight from Colombo.

Also Read: IPL 2021 Replacements: From Punjab Kings to RCB, check team-wise player replacements for IPL 2021 Phase 2

“We should have clarity on that today. We had confirmation that players arriving from Sri Lanka will not be needing quarantine. But it has changed due to Sri Lanka’s continuous red-list status. Since all the players are vaccinated with two doses and are in bio-bubble in Colombo, we expect to get clearance,” the BCCI official said.

IPL 2021: As for players in the CPL 2021 including Tim David (RCB) and Faf du Plessis (CSK), both along with West Indies players will be joining teams’ bio-bubble directly as St Lucia is not on the red-list.

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