While IPL authorities have their hands full dealing with the ‘Covid mess’ that broke out in the Super Kings of Chennai (CSK) camp – a development that was certainly considered possible given the virus threat – the remaining franchises say, “we haven’t heard from BCCI-IPL since we flew here.”
The Covid outbreak at CSK camp has once again ‘screwed up’ the schedule that BCCI-IPL had been working on, and now there is a strong possibility that “Mumbai Indians cannot play the first match against Chennai Super Kings. “Since the players have tested positive, the franchise now has to quarantine itself (even practice in isolation) for 14 days, instead of six, and that could mean that IPL You might be left with no choice but to start with another team.
“It could possibly be Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) because in the first game, you will need star players on the field. Yes MS Dhoni missing, then it has to be virat Kohli“say those who follow the developments. While it is not yet certain whether or not CSK will play the inaugural match, the governing council must remain prepared for a change.
Meanwhile, the teams say, they have been left to their own devices in the United Arab Emirates.
“The other day the lights went out at the practice site when a team was training,” says a representative from the franchise. Another is concerned that “team personnel have not yet received the FOB (tracking device) bands.” A third says: “We are still trying to figure out how to travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, considering that the two Emirates have different Covid regulations.” Another franchise is not convinced with the bubble that is being built and says, “This is not a commodity purchase and proactive in-depth data analysis is lacking.”
To make matters worse, the BCCI has not found time to listen to these ‘complaints’. “What happens is that they (BCCI-IPL) are ‘reacting’ to things. We have to ask a question for someone to tell us ‘we are going to reverse’. There is no communication,” say the franchises.
.
