Witnessing the IPL teams’ bio-bubble from a distance at the ICC Academy

By K.R. Nayar

I decided to drive down to the ICC Academy for the first day’s IPL teams' practice session after they had completed their quarantine period. It was a very different experience and I realised how tough it was to pierce the bio-bubble. I returned home promising myself to never complain again about waiting for an interview with cricketers, since cricketers in a bio-bubble cannot even be seen, forget meeting them in any way.

Rajasthan Royals at the ICC Academy during their first day's practice. Picture courtesy: Rajasthan Royals twitter 

It is highly unlikely that anyone has ever seen or experienced a bio-bubble. I witnessed what it would be like while waiting outside the bio-bubble created for the IPL teams during my visit to the ICC Cricket Academy on Wednesday evening when the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab teams were having their practice session.

As journalists reporting on cricket, we've often had to wait for hours to meet a player, and most of us are used to it. There have been occasions when journalists are informed that a particular player will be available for interaction before the start of their practice session, and then suddenly plans change abruptly resulting in us having to wait till the end of practice. Irrespective of whether the decision was made by the player or the team, journalists have no choice but to wait till the player arrives. Because if he is not available before practice, he will have to make himself available at the end of the practice session. But Wednesday was a totally different experience. So different that I doubt if I will ever complain about waiting for a player again.  

When a player is in a bio-bubble, no one is permitted to even enter the premises. Right from the parking lot of the ICC Academy, all access to the inside of the academy was blocked with railings. Only those familiar with the colour of a team's jersey would be able to identify which team was training. Since the Rajasthan Royals' sport a pink outfit, it was clearly visible under the floodlights just like the pink ball, and I was able to spot them. Although almost all top stars from limited over cricket have landed here, from the permitted distance, even if you are a photographer with a zoom lens, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to identify who are the players taking catches at the ground during fielding practice.

Kings XI Punjab player at the ICC Academy nets. Picture courtesy: Kings XI Punjab twitter  

Policemen and security in large numbers are spread all over and even those working in the ICC Academy, who have been given a special badge, were being allowed into the building only after the thermal scanner test.  A few youngsters who were hoping to capture a glimpse of the players were waiting outside the railing, and they were shooed away by the bouncer-like security staff.  All of the security personnel were wearing a mask and that made them look tougher. While these security men were positioned all over close to the oval grounds, they were none  near the path that players use to go to the practice area.

An official from the ICC Academy spotted me and remarked: “Considering the heat (around 40 degrees), all practice will be held in the evening. The practice schedule for all teams has been prepared and distributed.” The ICC academy has many practice nets and two oval grounds. From a schedule distributed to one of the teams that I had access to, I noticed that areas to be used for practice were clearly marked. If it was Oval 2 ground and three nets on one day, on another day they were allocated half of Oval 1 and two nets. This meant that if a team has been allocated a half field, they were supposed to do their fielding practice only there.  Practice dates at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium have also been clearly mentioned for every team.

However, the authorities are yet to decide whether local media will be permitted at least in a designated area and watch the practice sessions. My visit to the Sharjah Stadium last week revealed that one cannot even pass through the main entrance to the stadium without a thermal scanner test. In fact, the security tests you right away while you drive through the gate.

At the ICC Academy, I saw a few sanitizing machines being carried into the practice area. This machine was strapped onto a person's back, and I was told that even kit bags and carry bags of players would be sanitized frequently.

 Sanju Samson - a hit among Kerala fans

A few fans from Kerala were there hoping to get a glimpse of their state team hero Sanju Samson who plays for Rajasthan Royals.  Some of them had the video of Sanju Samson entering his hotel in Dubai with flower petals being showered all the way by the hotel authorities. They were only too happy to share it with me. Matching their team jersey, the Rajasthan Royals players are also sporting a pink mask. However, for those keen to watch the IPL players in action, including journalists, it is a red light for now.  Everyone is hoping that it turns green soon.