The 2020 IPL is less than three weeks away, but the tournament schedule, which some believe may be dynamic to account for unforeseen situations such as team members testing positive, has yet to be announced. The news that multiple members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent tested positive for Covid-19, including two players, has further complicated the scheduling challenge.
“We will see if they [Chennai Super Kings] can start on schedule, “BCCI President Sourav Ganguly told the India Times. “I hope the IPL goes well. We have a long schedule for the tournament and I sincerely hope that everything goes well.”
Brijesh Patel, chairman of the IPL governing council, and Hemang Amin, IPL’s chief operating officer, are believed to be discussing the matter with government officials and health authorities in the UAE. As they figure it out, we walk you through a series of programming scenarios that have emerged as potential options over the past three weeks.
First part of the tournament in Dubai?
Currently, six of the eight teams are based in Dubai and have been allowed to train at the ICC Academy. Most teams will not train in stadiums until match day. One of the proposals that are circulating is to have at least the first 20 games in Dubai. This would mean that only two teams, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, which are based in Abu Dhabi, would have to switch emirates for matches, with negative test reports. That’s a simpler option compared to the six Dubai-based teams that have to head to Abu Dhabi, or even Sharjah, for their matches.
There has been an increase in infection cases in the UAE and mandatory checks have increased at the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border, making traveling to Abu Dhabi take longer than before. Each crossing to Abu Dhabi involves a test 48 hours before the trip to take into account the stricter requirements of that emirate.
Teams will likely have to undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test and / or a DPI (dye penetration inspection) test before they are allowed to enter the border. Similarly, if Abu Dhabi-based teams have matches in Dubai, they will likely need to be evaluated within 48 hours of their return from Dubai.
To minimize these lengthy procedural delays, the idea of having the first stage only in Dubai is being debated. While IPL officials have obtained certain clearances after discussions with local officials and the Emirates Cricket Board, it is unlikely that the protocols for a cricket tournament will be withdrawn entirely.
Cluster programming?
One of the ideas is to have two unofficial groups with simultaneous schedules, possibly weekly or biweekly. If a situation arises where a team from one of the groups is unable to go out onto the field due to infection or isolation protocols, the other group can continue to play their matches undisturbed.
If a player tests positive during the tournament, they will have to go into quarantine for 14 days according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and will be allowed to re-enter the bio-bubble only after passing two tests after the two- period of the week. The other team members and support staff will need to be quarantined for six days and go through three tests (days 1, 3 and 5) and will be able to continue with their business only after passing these tests.
Group scheduling will allow at least half of the tournament to progress in such a scenario, and the team that is missing will have to catch up on their matches in their group after going through testing and quarantine regulations.
In case the group scheduling is approved, it is still unclear what the protocol will be for the other three teams in the infected team’s group: whether they will continue to play against each other or whether the games of the whole group will be stopped while these other teams will also they are tested as a precaution.
While such a possibility will cause a team to lose equipment, given that they will not be allowed to train outside during quarantine, it is a reality that everyone should be prepared for.
Question mark over double headings?
Some teams are understood to have reservations about playing matches in the UAE’s extreme summer afternoon temperatures – early play in a double header is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. local time, and the IPL had tentatively targeted ten. double headings. governing council when it announced the decision to move the tournament to the UAE. Whether or not that remains a concern remains to be seen.
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