The Board of Control for Cricket in India was due to announce the schedule of the IPL 2020 on Saturday. However, with 13 members of CSK contingent getting Corona positive, the board has now decided to delay the announcement of the fixtures.
It has been learnt that 13 members of CSK, including bowler Deepak Chahar, have been tested positive for coronavirus. As a result, the squad will now have to extend their quarantine period for one more week. It has come as a big blow for the league, though the board has insisted that all the measures are in place to tackle the situation.
“Adequate measures are in place to tackle the situation and there is no immediate threat to the tournament. But the announcement of fixtures has been delayed because of this development.” a BCCI source told TOI.
Out of all the franchises, CSK were the only team who had conducted a training camp in Chennai before leaving for UAE. The team management reasoned that most of their players are above 30s and thus needed to get in some shape before flying off to Dubai.
“There are many players who were coming from a long lay-off. The likes of MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina had played very little cricket even before the lockdown in March. That’s why CSK insisted on having the camp, to have a few extra days under their belt.”
As of now, CSK won’t tell BCCI to postpone their matches if no player tests positive in the following tests. As per the protocols, those who tested positive for Covid-19 will get isolate for 14 days and come out as negative in the two tests. Only then he can get back to join the group.
IPL 2020 is scheduled to start on 19th September 2020. The final of the tournament will be played on 10th November 2020.
