Stars in a ‘bubble’ to play from IPL start

CRICKETERS from Australia and England may yet feature from the start of the Indian Premier League despite a series between the countries before the Twenty20 tournament, according to chairman of the Bangalore franchise.

Stars including England’s Ben Stokes and Steve Smith, of Australia, will be involved in the limited-overs series that ends three days before the start of the IPL in the United Arab Emirates on September 19.

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed IPL out of India and, according to tournament protocols, the players will have to undergo a week’s isolation and testing before they can join their teams.

But Sanjeev Churiwala, of the Royal Challengers Bangalore — led by India skipper Virat Kohli, and with Aaron Finch, of Australia, and England’s Moeen Ali in the squad — feels the three will already be in a bio-bubble in England.

“For the players landing after the England and Australia series, on September 17, that is very close to our matches,” Churiwala said.

“What the standard operating procedures say very clearly (is) that they can participate without quarantine, provided they satisfy certain very stringent conditions.”

A total of 29 players from England and Australia are part of the eight IPL squads.

Earlier Chennai Super Kings chief executive Kasi Viswanathan had said a number of English and Australian players would “miss two or three games” due to quarantine.

Many teams will also travel with net bowlers.