MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council is all set to hold a virtual meeting on Sunday over teleconferencing with their stakeholders and broadcasters to discuss final plans for the 13th edition of the T20 league. The IPL this time will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Recently both players and the franchise owners had raised concerns over the safety of the players and other health hazards amidst the coronavirus pandemic. “In all these years of IPL, the responsibility of accommodation, hospitality, travel etc — during the IPL — has been of the team owners. Nothing is going to change this year. The only change will be in the SOPs with regards to COVID,” said IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel.
On Monday, BCCI shared its plan with the franchises.
Biosecure bubbles
Each franchise will create its own bubble within which the players will be interacting with only a select few limited people being in their own ecosystem. Similar arrangements will be made for the BCCI and IMG staff, broadcasters, etc. nobody will be allowed to interact with individuals outside their bubble.
Revenue Pools
Since all the 60 matches to be played within 51 days, there will be no change in the distribution of BCCI’s central revenue pool.
Travel And Accommodation
Franchises will have to arrange their own travel arrangements and accommodation in the UAE. However, BCCI will talk with UAE authorities to ensure discounted rates that will be shared with the franchise owners. Franchises will have to fly in their players to the UAE and back as usual.
Medical Assistance
Franchises will have to arrange for their own medical teams and BCCI will have a central medical team as well. Once players and support staff land in UAE, the onus of testing them will be on the franchises. The BCCI medical team will coordinate with the franchise medical team 24×7. The medical teams will stay in their respective biosecure bubbles.
Player Replacement
There will be no change to the player policy and the extra players will have to be accommodated in a single flight to avoid any last-minute travel.
The BCCI is to refine these policies further and share with the franchises and broadcasters in details later this week.
