IPL in the UAE depends on three R’s - Responsibility, Respect, and Restrain

By K.R. Nayar

Staging of the IPL 2020 is a challenge that everyone involved in this league must take up with full responsibility. A disciplined approach is the only way forward and that is possible only if they respect and protect the bio-bubble without being careless and negligent about the procedures to be followed to remain safe from the Coronavirus. 

Mumbai Indians players undergoing test before start of  their practice in Abu Dhabi 

The Indian Premier League (IPL)  2020 to be held in UAE from September 19 can be staged successfully only if every individual associated with this league acts in the most responsible manner. It’s not just the players and support staff in the teams but everyone associated with the staging of this league who will have to strictly adhere to the procedures laid down for the smooth and safe conduct of this event.  

The UAE had conducted the 2014 IPL edition successfully but there were no challenges like this then. All that was needed then was to provide the necessary facilities for the event, and being a neutral venue that regularly stages international fixtures and leagues of other countries, that wasn’t a difficult task. At that time, the responsibility of the smooth conduct of the event was entirely in the hands of the Emirates Cricket Board and the officials of the three grounds.

Suresh Raina tweeted this picture  on their way to the UAE  for IPL 

News about a player from one of the teams and a few support staff members being tested positive has surprised cricket officials here although no official confirmation or denial of the news has been made by any team management. The IPL press release has also not named any team but has confirmed that 13 people have tested positive of which two are players. However, the CEO of Chennai Super Kings, KS Viswanathan, tweeted today about their player Suresh Raina having to return urgently to India due to 'personal reasons' and that he would not be available for the entire duration of the league. 

Guidelines to be followed by all teams and those associated with the event that has been put out by the IPL has been created after an intense study by their officials. Upon entering the UAE, a quarantine of six days needs to be carried out with COVID-19 tests to be taken on the first, third, and fifth day. This is strictly mandatory, and only if all tests show negative can anyone enter the bio-bubble. So, only if everyone adheres to these procedures with utmost discipline, equivalent to a Virat Kohli’s daily regime, can one emerge successfully and safely to play in the tournament.

For the next two months, all those who are involved with this event will need to resist their temptation to burst the bubble. Being in a bubble can be uneasy, and it must be protected by everyone inside. It’s time everyone accepts the fact that one can contract the virus from anywhere and that the virus does not spare anyone, be it the most famous cricketer or coach. Even team owners, if they are in the bubble, will need to strictly follow the rules; and if they are outside the bubble then they will need to ensure that their team players are safe and that they must not in any way try to the enter the bubble without following the mandatory procedures.

Follow Virat Kohli's discipline while in the bubble and remain safe 

If anyone is found to be positive, the contact tracing procedure will come into effect and all those who have had close contact with the affected individual will be monitored and tested over the next five days. The positive tested individual will then be assigned a designated isolation zone until he is stable. So the debate over the report that those tested positive yesterday had been infected while in India or after coming here is unwarranted.

Discussions should be on what is the way forward and educating everyone on the responsibility that they carry with them for the smooth conduct of the league. It is understood that any catering that was being provided from outside the hotel for those associated with the league is now being stopped.  The situation now is that everyone must respect the norms to remain in the bubble and protect it too, not only for their own good, but for others as well and for ensuring that the league is held successfully till the end. So all that one needs to do is to strictly follow the three Rs to ensure that the league happens – Responsibility, Respect, and Restrain.