SUPER KINGS IN QUARANTINE AFTER 10 TEST COVID POSITIVE
IPL teams begin practice amid Covid scare
In what could be a big blow to their IPL preparations, at least 10 members of the Chennai Super Kings have tested positive for Covid-19 in Dubai. Super Kings, who landed in the UAE on August 21, were supposed to begin their training session on Friday, but have now been forced to extend their room quarantine till September 1.
IPL is scheduled to start on September 19 with Mumbai Indians taking on CSK in the opener. Neither CSK nor BCCI has issued an official statement, but it’s learnt that Indian fast bowler Deepak Chahar, a top franchise official’s wife, a few net bowlers and a couple of members of the social media team are among those infected.
As per IPL’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), those who test positive will be isolated and allowed to return to the bio-bubble only after at least two weeks of quarantine and two negative test reports.
With just 22 days left before the start of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, multiple members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent have tested positive for
Covid-19, causing an upheaval ahead of the event starting September
19.
The Chennai Super Kings were the only to team to have a pre-departure conditioning camp in Chennai where they had created a ‘mini bubble’ at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. According to sources, a net bowler and a member of the social media team had to be dropped from the contingent after they tested positive in Chennai.
CSK have travelled with a fat contingent of 55 members. All of them were tested upon arrival at the Dubai airport followed by three more tests on days 1, 3 and 6 at the hotel.
“The infection could have been picked up either from those left out from the squad or the airport. Those who have tested positive are mostly asymptomatic. The BCCIappointed healthcare officials have begun procedures to trace the contacts,” said the team source.
Jittery BCCI officials have called for an informal meeting with franchise representatives.
Meanwhile, after completing a mandatory seven-day quarantine period in Abu Dhabi,
Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals were the latest set of teams to come out of their isolation and shake the rust off in their first practice session at various ICC Academies on Thursday.
RCB and India captain Virat Kohli appeared cheerful as he kicked about a volleyball and shared some light
moments with teammates.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals have signed Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams to replace England’s Jason Roy.
Roy was on Thursday ruled out of England’s T20 series against Pakistan after sustaining a side strain. However the Delhi Capitals said he had opted out of the IPL “for personal reasons”.
“The IPL is a huge platform for any cricketer, and back home, we all follow the tournament extremely closely every year,” said Sams, 27.
“I feel fortunate to be a part of it this year... I can’t wait to join the rest of the players in the UAE,” Sams was quoted as saying in a statement released by the franchise late on Thursday.