[VIDEOS/PICTURES] The IPL 2020 (19th September - 10th November) Tournament Thread

[Realromeo]

10 staff and 1 Indian national player of CSK has been tested positive for COVID-19. Thanks to great Super Thala Ultimate A1 Supreme Leader Dhoni for his idea to hold training camp in Chennai(one of the most infected city in all of the world). Thank you Super Star Thala Supreme Leader.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

10 staff and 1 Indian national player of CSK has been tested positive for COVID-19. Thanks to great Super Thala Ultimate A1 Supreme Leader Dhoni for his idea to hold training camp in Chennai(one of the most infected city in all of the world). Thank you Super Star Thala Supreme Leader.

There is plenty of time for everyone to recover in the bubble and for matches to start in time.

That's the point of arriving early. It was a calculated risk by Dhoni.

 

[Indiafan]

There is plenty of time for everyone to recover in the bubble and for matches to start in time.

That's the point of arriving early. It was a calculated risk by Dhoni.

And there is still time for others to catch from CSK. And God forbid if someone gets seriously ill. It was a completely un-necessary risk to no avail

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

And there is still time for others to catch from CSK. And God forbid if someone gets seriously ill. It was a completely un-necessary risk to no avail

You wanted IPL to happen now don't cry like this. This is just the beginning. You thought Australia came under IPL's pressure and decided to postpone the WT20 but in reality they were exactly aware of situations like these.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

10 staff and 1 Indian national player of CSK has been tested positive for COVID-19. Thanks to great Super Thala Ultimate A1 Supreme Leader Dhoni for his idea to hold training camp in Chennai(one of the most infected city in all of the world). Thank you Super Star Thala Supreme Leader.

What a poor post. Why don't you blame BCCI who is organising IPL at this time of the year and under these circumstances? Not to mention these idiots also want to allow crowd in UAE.

 

[Realromeo]

What a poor post. Why don't you blame BCCI who is organising IPL at this time of the year and under these circumstances? Not to mention these idiots also want to allow crowd in UAE.

It ws Super Thala Supre Leader Dhoni's idea and push to hold a 2 week training camp in Chennai. Other teams were careful. There was and still a large outbreak where the Cheapuak stadium is located. No one....again NO ONE WEARS GLOVES. No surprise here.

 

[Firebat]

What is the reason you would organise a league with hundreds of players and staff and officials and TV guys during a time like this? The health danger is overwhelming. It's different organising a biosecure bubble between 2 teams in a 3 match series compared to 8 teams and 60 matches.

Whoever seriously decided to go ahead with it needs a brain check.

 

[Sidilicious]

They were only tested because they were catching an international flight and they were set to take part in a sports tournament.

Same thing with Pak v Eng before the tour.

Makes you wonder how many of us are positive and we don't know about it.

There are probably 750,000 cases a day in reality but we're only reporting 75,000.

Read in a study somewhere that the real number of cases in the US is approx. 10 times the reported cases. This was calculated by testing for anti-bodies and comparing the numbers.

In India it would probably be 20 times. There was another research study where 25% of Delhi was estimated to have caught Covid by early August. That’s about 30 lacs, compared 1.5 lacs currently being reported.

 

[Indiafan]

What a poor post. Why don't you blame BCCI who is organising IPL at this time of the year and under these circumstances? Not to mention these idiots also want to allow crowd in UAE.

Notice how other teams didn't have any cases? Also UAE has way way way fewer cases than india and chennai so players are much safer there

The idea of holding a camp in chennai was really bad and should never have been approved

 

[uberkoen]

He is partially right. The chance of a non symptomatic person transmitting the disease is very less.

Share the evidence.

 

[Varun]

Read in a study somewhere that the real number of cases in the US is approx. 10 times the reported cases. This was calculated by testing for anti-bodies and comparing the numbers.

In India it would probably be 20 times. There was another research study where 25% of Delhi was estimated to have caught Covid by early August. That’s about 30 lacs, compared 1.5 lacs currently being reported.

I agree. No wonder the cases have plateaud/fallen in Delhi, Bombay and Chennai. The virus has run out of warm bodies to infect.

In which case, what is the fatality rate? 0.0000-something.

 

[Sidilicious]

I agree. No wonder the cases have plateaud/fallen in Delhi, Bombay and Chennai. The virus has run out of warm bodies to infect.

In which case, what is the fatality rate? 0.0000-something.

Not so soon mate. I dont see us hitting the peak until November.

Doing a quick excel number crunch for Delhi, assuming a 20x multiple of actual covid infections, and adding 10% of deaths (some deaths being incorrectly categorized incorrectly as other diseases) the fatality rate is 0.14%.

It doesnt look signifcant. However, a death rate of 0.14% means a total death of 1.1 mn before herd immunity is reached (assuming 60% penetration to reach herd immunity).

The question is whether 0.14% death rate significant enough to put a whole state/country on lockdown? Is is bad enough to take the economy back 3-4 years?

Approx 9m people die every year in India.

 

[Savak]

Paisa is everything even if it entails potential death. This is what money does to all the stakeholders

 

[MenInG]

A second Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player tested positive for COVID-19 even as all-rounder Suresh Raina pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) citing "personal reasons". The player in question is a right-handed top-order batsman, who has been a part of India A teams in the recent past and is a prolific performer in Ranji Trophy. On Friday, a T20 specialist pacer had tested positive in Dubai. The BCCI, in a release issued on the official IPL website on Saturday, said that a total of 1,988 RT-PCR Covid tests were done from August 20th-28th. Without naming any of them, the release said that 13 personnel had tested COVID-19 positive of which two were players.

"Total of 1,988 RT-PCR COVID tests were carried out between August 20th – 28th across all participant groups in the UAE. These groups include Players, Support Staff, Team Management, BCCI Staff, IPL Operational team, Hotel and ground transport Staff. 13 personnel have tested positive of which 2 are players. All the affected personnel as well as their close contacts are asymptomatic and have been isolated from other team members. They are being monitored by the IPL Medical Team," an IPL release said.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put in place stringent health and safety protocols for the Dream11 Indian Premier League 2020 Season, which is scheduled to start from September 19th in the UAE. Accordingly, upon landing in the UAE, all the participants have followed a mandatory testing and quarantine programme," the release added.

While it is understood that the tournament is not under threat as of now but one franchise becoming a "COVID-19 hotspot" is slowly becoming an issue for other teams as well as the BCCI.

"If there are 13 cases from only one franchise then it is an issue for sure for everyone. The biggest aspect will be whether foreign cricketers will now start being panicky as they are more touchy about these issues," an official told PTI.

"We need to keep a tab on players' mental health," he added.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/ipl...-for-coronavirus-2287213?pfrom=home-sshowcase

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

How many teams, players and staff they have in total in IPL? Why are they acting macho and think virus can't touch them in India/UAE? May be they will spread virus to others in UAE unknowingly? In my opinion this is the dumbest decision ever by UAE to host a foreign league during these times.

 

[Indiafan]

How many teams, players and staff they have in total in IPL? Why are they acting macho and think virus can't touch them in India/UAE? May be they will spread virus to others in UAE unknowingly? In my opinion this is the dumbest decision ever by UAE to host a foreign league during these times.

Do you understand what a bio secure environment means? No one comes and goes out of the bubble
so the question of spreafing it to anyone does not arise. Everyone will live inside the bubble.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Do you understand what a bio secure environment means? No one comes and goes out of the bubble
so the question of spreafing it to anyone does not arise. Everyone will live inside the bubble.

Good luck explaining these to Indian players.

 

[MenInG]

Excellent opinion piece.

==

Forty-eight hours after BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrote a letter to affiliated members claiming that the Board was taking all precautions for a safe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the deadly COVID-19 virus breached the bio-bubble of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with impunity.

At least 18 members of CSK were found to have contracted the coronavirus after they were tested on Thursday. This, in spite of CSK being in a bio-bubble that is apparently impregnable and minimises the effect of the novel virus.

Whether it is one or 100, the number of positive cases is not important. Given the social panic the virus has created across the world, the teams will now remain on tenterhooks and that will cause alarm bells ringing in the minds of players and support staff across teams.

The BCCI should have been circumspect. But it wasn't. The IPL is the Indian cricket Board's hottest property. It earns BCCI INR 4,000 crores annually from global broadcast rights and various types of sponsorship. To remain THE most powerful member in the International Cricket Council (ICC), BCCI was not ready to forego IPL 2020.

Money speaks in world cricket and BCCI knows how to flex its muscle. It has done this ever since Jagmohan Dalmiya showed how cricket could exploit the big corporates and make them salivate by being able to hobnob with cricket superstars and Bollywood celebrities. Money also attracted the match-fixers and corruption continues to thrive.

BCCI's clout at ICC is there to see. Since financially struggling cricket boards like Australia, South Africa, West Indies and England can't afford to anger India, the World T20 in Australia was cancelled -- rightly so -- and IPL instantly took the September-November window.

The IPL Governing Council either underestimated the coronavirus or they were overconfident that the bio-bubble would easily arrest the coronavirus. How wrong were they!

BCCI officials perhaps thought that since they can do anything in India -- even make a mockery of the judiciary -- they will bludgeon the virus.

That COVID would attack CSK of all teams is a timely reminder that the virus doesn't understand class, colour or creed. It doesn't know who is MS Dhoni or who is Virat Kohli. It doesn't know who is Jay Shah or Sourav Ganguly.

From Amitabh Bachchan to Amit Shah, from Presidents and Prime Ministers to the common man on the street, the virus has impacted all.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) cancelled the Tokyo Olympics this year, Wimbledon let go its fortunes and top international players pulled out of the US Open tennis tournament, but BCCI wasn't prepared to lose revenue. And it found an ally in the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) because India was 'unsafe'.

A glamour-loving body like the ECB loves the hype and hoopla around tournaments like IPL. Yes, Dubai hosted a portion of IPL in 2014 but those were different times. Even ECB has overestimated its ability this time.

The IPL Governing Council has still not been able to release the fixtures and the tournament is exactly three weeks away. The virus attack on CSK will surely impact the schedule and there is no guarantee that the other teams will be safe in their bio-bubbles.

Even the UAE will be worried. The tiny Gulf nation has actually compromised on the health and wellness of its own people by welcoming a glitzy cricket tournament that only fattens the wallet of a cricket board and some franchises.

Expect more drama in the coming days.

https://www.outlookindia.com/blog/s...pl-organisers-swallow-pride-and-arroganc/4221

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Excellent opinion piece.

==

Forty-eight hours after BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrote a letter to affiliated members claiming that the Board was taking all precautions for a safe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the deadly COVID-19 virus breached the bio-bubble of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with impunity.

At least 18 members of CSK were found to have contracted the coronavirus after they were tested on Thursday. This, in spite of CSK being in a bio-bubble that is apparently impregnable and minimises the effect of the novel virus.

Whether it is one or 100, the number of positive cases is not important. Given the social panic the virus has created across the world, the teams will now remain on tenterhooks and that will cause alarm bells ringing in the minds of players and support staff across teams.

The BCCI should have been circumspect. But it wasn't. The IPL is the Indian cricket Board's hottest property. It earns BCCI INR 4,000 crores annually from global broadcast rights and various types of sponsorship. To remain THE most powerful member in the International Cricket Council (ICC), BCCI was not ready to forego IPL 2020.

Money speaks in world cricket and BCCI knows how to flex its muscle. It has done this ever since Jagmohan Dalmiya showed how cricket could exploit the big corporates and make them salivate by being able to hobnob with cricket superstars and Bollywood celebrities. Money also attracted the match-fixers and corruption continues to thrive.

BCCI's clout at ICC is there to see. Since financially struggling cricket boards like Australia, South Africa, West Indies and England can't afford to anger India, the World T20 in Australia was cancelled -- rightly so -- and IPL instantly took the September-November window.

The IPL Governing Council either underestimated the coronavirus or they were overconfident that the bio-bubble would easily arrest the coronavirus. How wrong were they!

BCCI officials perhaps thought that since they can do anything in India -- even make a mockery of the judiciary -- they will bludgeon the virus.

That COVID would attack CSK of all teams is a timely reminder that the virus doesn't understand class, colour or creed. It doesn't know who is MS Dhoni or who is Virat Kohli. It doesn't know who is Jay Shah or Sourav Ganguly.

From Amitabh Bachchan to Amit Shah, from Presidents and Prime Ministers to the common man on the street, the virus has impacted all.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) cancelled the Tokyo Olympics this year, Wimbledon let go its fortunes and top international players pulled out of the US Open tennis tournament, but BCCI wasn't prepared to lose revenue. And it found an ally in the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) because India was 'unsafe'.

[MENTION=3327]Indiafan[/MENTION] See even your bio-bubble is not secure.

 

[Uzi]

Regardless of the number players and staff that get infected, IPL should continue. It is too important a tournament to cancel. It is the premier cricket tournament in world cricket and if it were to be cancelled, it would bring heartbreak to India and cricket lovers around the world.

I cannot wait until Sept 19th as it is my mother's birthday, but more importantly that is when the IPL starts.

 

[The Viper]

IPL 2020: Sourav Ganguly reacts after multiple CSK squad members test positive, says ‘We’ll see if they can start on schedule’

Reacting for the first time ever since the news of multiple Chennai Super Kings squad members including two cricketers testing positive for Covid-19 broke out, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said it has to be seen whether three-time champions CSK can start IPL 2020 as per the schedule.

IPL 2020 is slated to begin from September 19 in the UAE for which all eight franchises with their support staff and players have settled in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Things were going as per plans before Friday night when it was confirmed that an India pacer who is a member of the CSK squad and a few other members of the team had tested positive. A day later another cricketer of CSK reported positive.

BCCI confirmed that after several rounds of testing, 13 people have tested positive for Covid-19 which caste a shadow on the timely start of the 13th edition of IPL, the schedule for which is yet to be released by the board.

“I cannot comment on the situation of CSK. We will see if they can start as per schedule. I hope the IPL will be conducted well. We have a long schedule for the tournament and I sincerely hope everything will go on just fine,” Sourav Ganguly told the Times of India.

CSK’s worries don’t end there. Their highest-run scorer Suresh Raina decided to fly back home and give this years’s IPL a miss citing personal reasons.

“Senior spinner Harbhajan Singh who is in India and did not take part in CSK’s preparatory camp in Chennai (Aug 15-20) is worried whether to participate in the tournament or not,” a source close to the player said. He is expected to join the team in the UAE on Tuesday.

Many players, mostly foreigners, are yet to join their teams in the UAE, and some among them are bound to be in a dilemma like Harbhajan whether or not to play amid the pandemic. The league was first postponed from April-May and then shifted out of India.

Ganguly, who was shooting for a commercial film at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, however, said people will have to accept the new reality.

“The entire world is coping with the crisis. Football and cricket matches are being conducted to empty stadiums globally. We will also have to accept that reality.

“I have started working and do our work. I am not a full-fledged sportsperson anymore – I am half-and-half. I am balancing between family, cricket, BCCI and media work,” he said.

https://m.hindustantimes.com/cricke...on-schedule/story-VniRk9kZi3XWOdsYosyUJL.html

 

[MenInG]

India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli understands "the privilege" of being able to play cricket in the middle of a raging pandemic and he wants all IPL participants to respect the tournament's bio-secure bubble. Speaking on RCB's Youtube show ''Bold Diaries'', the 31-year-old said he didn't exactly miss the game during the COVID-forced lockdown, which brought sporting action to a halt. "Maybe because I was going on day and night for the last 10 years...It was a revelation for me in the sense that my focus was not solely on missing the game all the time," Kohli said.

Now that he is gearing up to be back in action with the IPL, starting September 19 in the UAE, Kohli said the BCCI's Standard Operating Procedure and the bio-bubble restrictions should be non-negotiable for all participants.

"We are all here to play cricket...The bio-bubble needs to be respected at all times for the tournament to happen eventually. We are not here to have fun and roam around and you know say that 'I want to hang out in Dubai,'" Kohli asserted.

"That is not the time we are living in. Accept the phase that we are going through and understand the privilege that we have, just to be a part of the IPL. Everyone should accept that and not behave in a manner which situation doesn't require them to," he said.

Speaking about coming back to the game after five months, Kohli said it didn't take much time for him to find his groove.

"A couple of months back you couldn't imagine that you will have IPL firstly... When we had our practice session yesterday, I realised how long it has been. When I was heading to the practice session, I felt nervous," he conceded.

"I felt a bit jittery but things were okay. I didn't miss the game as much as I though I might...just carrying on with life was also important," he said.

Kohli credited the side's support staff, led by Team Director Mike Hesson, for making everyone understand what's at stake and at the same time not put them under pressure.

"Culture will not change for any individual preferences," he said.

On the the tournament being played without in-stadia fans because of the bio-bubble restrictions, Kohli said it would be strange at first but eventually players will adapt to the feeling.

"I would not say it won't be difficult, strange. The echo of bat hitting the ball, I haven't experienced it for the last 10 years. The Ranji Trophy was the last time. But we have done this at some stage of our lives," he said referring to the domestic games which are played in near-empty venues.

"The crowd factor will definitely play a part but the instincts will kick in and it will diminish quite quickly," he added.

The instinctive celebrations on the field will also be restricted due to health-safety protocols. Kohli reiterated that everyone has no choice but to adapt.

"It has to be a balance. You cannot go berserk. We can't be like kids being sent to a park," he quipped

The star cricketer, who will welcome his first child in January with actor wife Anushka Sharma, said he has been over the moon ever since he got to know about it.

"It is an incredible feeling. It puts things in perspective for you. It is difficult to describe how you feel," he said.

https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2020/ip...cols-says-we-are-not-here-to-have-fun-2288506

 

[Sami92]

No one....again NO ONE WEARS GLOVES. No surprise here.

I have never really understood why people don't want to wear gloves !

 

[Abdullah719]

Adam Zampa has received a late call-up to the upcoming IPL after Royal Challengers Bangalore announced they have signed the leg-spinner to replace his close friend, Kane Richardson

 

[Sami92]

The idea of holding a camp in chennai was really bad and should never have been approved

This.

IMO, if the matches can't held in India then the training camps also can't be held there. The rules can't be different for these two i.e. holding matches & holding training camps.

 

[King_Kohli]

This.

IMO, if the matches can't held in India then the training camps also can't be held there. The rules can't be different for these two i.e. holding matches & holding training camps.

Dont know how Dhoni missed this point

 

[King_Kohli]

According to InsideSport, MS Dhoni is optimistic that Suresh Raina can still make a comeback in the CSK squad for IPL 2020.

 

[King_Kohli]

BCCI set to spend around Rs 10 crore for more than 20,000 Covid-19 tests during IPL

The Indian cricket board has budgeted nearly Rs 10 crore for more than 20,000 COVID-19 tests to be conducted during the Indian Premier League starting September 19.

While the eight franchises bore the cost of testing in India, the BCCI is picking up the tab for the RT-PCR tests which have been conducted from August 20 when the teams started landing in the UAE.

"We have engaged VPS Healthcare, a UAE based company to conduct the tests. While I can't put a number, it will be more than 20,000 tests which would include everyone. Each test would cost BCCI around 200 AED (Dirham) excluding taxes," a senior IPL official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"So BCCI will be spending something in the tune of Rs 10 crore for the COVID tests. Around 75 healthcare workers who are part of the company are a part of the IPL testing process," the official said.

The BCCI doesn't want to leave anything to chance as far as safety of players and officials is concerned and the healthcare workers have been put in a separate hotel.

"We couldn't have taken the risk. A separate bio-bubble has been created by the company in a hotel. Around 50 of its health care staff are attached with testing process while another 25 are engaged in lab and documentation work.

"The BCCI is however not paying for this bio-bubble and hotel expenses which will be borne by the company," he informed.

A total of 1988 COVID tests were carried out between August 2028 across all those involved with the tournament, including players and support staff.

Chennai Super Kings were forced to extend their quarantine after 13 members of their contingent tested positive, including two players in India seamer Deepak Chahar and A team batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad.

All are currently undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine after which they will have to return two negative tests, following which they can return to training.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

https://www.business-standard.com/a...000-plus-tests-during-ipl-120090101136_1.html

 

[MenInG]

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly is confident that the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a success despite the early setbacks. A few days back, 13 members of the Chennai Super Kings camp - including two players - tested positive for coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Interacting with students in a webinar organised by Symbiosis University, Ganguly said: “Crowd will watch it on television. They (broadcasters) are expecting the highest rating for IPL this season because they believe if (people) don’t turn out in the ground, they would watch it on television. There is a positive in everything…”

The former India captain feels resumption of cricket is an ‘effort to bring life back to normal’. “We could have easily avoided the IPL… but then, that’s what we humans are, and that’s why we can survive in all the difficult times," he said. "We have overcome them [wars and pandemics] only because mankind has the mindset to come back when we are pushed to the wall.”

The Indian government has announced that sporting activities can resume with 100 spectators from September 21, and sports bodies are hoping for things to improve from here on. “Because of the COVID infection, you don’t want people to be too close to each other, but very soon you will see there will be 30 per cent people in the ground with social distancing. They (will be) properly tested and allowed to enter the ground. But I think that is going to happen over some time…”

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...9-bcci-uae-sourav-ganguly/article32488229.ece

 

[MenInG]

The Indian cricket board has budgeted nearly Rs 10 crore for more than 20,000 COVID-19 tests to be conducted during the Indian Premier League starting September 19.

While the eight franchises bore the cost of testing in India, the BCCI is picking up the tab for the RT-PCR tests which have been conducted from August 20 when the teams started landing in the UAE.

"We have engaged VPS Healthcare, a UAE based company to conduct the tests. While I can't put a number, it will be more than 20,000 tests which would include everyone. Each test would cost BCCI around 200 AED (Dirham) excluding taxes," a senior IPL official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"So BCCI will be spending something in the tune of Rs 10 crore for the COVID tests. Around 75 healthcare workers who are part of the company are a part of the IPL testing process," the official said.

The BCCI doesn't want to leave anything to chance as far as safety of players and officials is concerned and the healthcare workers have been put in a separate hotel.

"We couldn't have taken the risk. A separate bio-bubble has been created by the company in a hotel. Around 50 of its health care staff are attached with testing process while another 25 are engaged in lab and documentation work.

"The BCCI is however not paying for this bio-bubble and hotel expenses which will be borne by the company," he informed.

A total of 1988 COVID tests were carried out between August 20–28 across all those involved with the tournament, including players and support staff.

Chennai Super Kings were forced to extend their quarantine after 13 members of their contingent tested positive, including two players in India seamer Deepak Chahar and A team batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad.

All are currently undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine after which they will have to return two negative tests, following which they can return to training.

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...crore-for-20000-plus-coronavirus-tests/359664

 

[MenInG]

Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh has once again postponed his flight to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

“Yes Harbhajan has rescheduled his travel plans. He was supposed to come today [September 1] but there is nothing to worry. We are confident that he will join the team before the end of this week”, Kasi Viswanathan, CEO of the CSK team, was quoted as saying by InsideSport.

This latest development, despite the CSK camp sounding positive, has further fuelled the rumours that Harbhajan could also pull out of the tournament.

On Saturday, Suresh Raina decided to leave the CSK camp in the UAE, citing "personal reasons".

The three-time champions were hit by coronavirus with several members, including two players, tests returning positive.

Though the latest round of COVID-19 tests have reportedly returned negative, there will be more such tests.

If Harbhajan pulls out, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side will have serious issues.

Already without Raina, their batting mainstay over the years, missing a player of Harbhajan's experience and caliber will be a double whammy.

The fixture of IPL 2020 is yet to be released, but CSK should take on Mumbai Indians on September 19. Traditionally, the finalists from the previous season meet in the first match.

Meanwhile, the South Africa duo of Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi have landed in the UAE to join the CSK team.

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...-pull-out-spinner-postpones-uae-flight/359655

 

[King_Kohli]

Deepak Chahar recovered and doing practice.
Lol.. How come he recovered so quickly.

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has acknowledged that there is a “little bit of apprehension” as he gears up to leave for the UAE to compete in the Indian Premier League, beginning September 19 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thirteen members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent, including two players, testing positive for the virus has added to his concerns as he prepares for his stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He flies out on Thursday.

“That’s part of the reason why they made every team stay at a different hotel,” Williamson told ‘Radio New Zealand’.

“But obviously that’s bad news. You don’t want to hear anybody has Covid. I hear they are predominantly asymptomatic so hopefully through another lockdown period they can come through and will be okay.”

He is one of the six New Zealanders featuring in the tournament which was moved out of India due to the rising coronavirus cases.

“Obviously there’s a little bit of apprehension, certainly as you get nearer to the time. Now it’s two days out you start thinking you do have to be extremely vigilant and disciplined,” added Williamson.

The IPL will be played across three cities -- Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The event will conclude on November 10.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...ases-in-ipl/story-Lon127CrkClp7y1X7j4mBL.html

 

[MenInG]

Deepak Chahar recovered and doing practice.
Lol.. How come he recovered so quickly.

DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar, who was tested positive for coronavirus last week, on Tuesday said he has "recovered well and hopes to be in action soon".

Chahar shared his health status from his hotel room in Dubai.

"Thank you so much for your lovely wishes and prayers. I have recovered well and hopefully will be in action soon," he said in a video posted on CSK's Twitter handle which had the India T20 specialist doing some lower body weight training.

Thirteen members of the CSK contingent including Chahar and another player have been tested positive for the virus.

They are all are in isolation.

All others have tested negative in their first test and if they get another negative report on Thursday and can start training from the next day.

The development has forced them the team to stay indoors after completing the first six days in quarantine.

Suresh Raina's sudden pullout from the IPL due to personal reasons is also a setback for MS Dhoni-led CSK.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/sp...-be-in-action-soon-deepak-chahar-2191504.html

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga on Wednesday announced that he will be unavailable for the 13th edition of Indian Premier League which kicks off from September 19th. Mumbai Indians announced Australian speedster James Pattinson as Malinga’s replacement for the upcoming season.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...replacement/story-Y40ZQ6WT1j6LVjC1VMV8dM.html

 

[The Viper]

IPL: Ricky Ponting Remains At Odd With R Ashwin On Mankading, But Agrees With 'Penalty'

The Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting is a staunch critic of the practice named after former India all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, backed the senior India off-spinner when he asked if the batsman should also be penalised for leaving his crease at the non-striker's end before a ball is delivered.

Ricky Ponting remains at odds with R Ashwin on the contentious issue of 'Mankading' but proposes introducing a one-run penalty for batsmen backing up too far at the non-striker's end for stealing a single. (More Cricket News)

The Delhi Capitals coach, a legend of the game and a staunch critic of the practice named after former India all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, backed the senior India off-spinner when he asked if the batsman should also be penalised for leaving his crease at the non-striker's end before a ball is delivered.

Ashwin, who will turn out for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL in the UAE, asked Ponting: "Now no balls are being looked at very closely, every single ball of a T20 game... Can the batsman also be reprimanded on a similar line if he crosses the line?"

Ponting responded in the positive.

"I think so," the Australian great said.

"There should be some sort of run penalty. Like if you are to get to the top of your bowling action and stop, and it shows that the batsman is cheating, he is out of his crease, I think put a run penalty on him.

"... And do it right from the start, because that will stop him straightaway. Imagine taking 10 runs off the team total because you have taken a yard out of your crease. It's got to be... those sort of things need to be looked at."

The issue became a talking point when Ponting, head coach of Ashwin's team Delhi Capitals, said he would have a discussion with the bowler on the controversial manner of getting a batsman out.

Ashwin ran out England's Jos Buttler at the non-striker's end last season when he backed up too far, drawing criticism for his act as many called it against the spirit of the game.

Ashwin, who called himself a "serial run out guy", again made it clear that he "couldn't take the batsmen taking those extra yards"

"I feel it's a massive advantage (for batsmen)," Ashwin, who started out as a batsman in junior cricket, told Ponting.

The two-time World Cup winning captain responded, "I totally get where you're coming from. And that's what I said. I wasn't trying to say that you were justified, because actually in the course of the game, you can't do it.

"So if the batsmen is cheating and trying to pinch a couple of yards, then honestly, we have got to find a way around, trying to make the batsmen stop cheating.

"We have had this conversation already. I don't want to see anyone running two or three yards down the wicket. That basically is cheating."

Ponting had said earlier he will have a "hard conversation" with Ashwin and won't allow him to repeat the act at Delhi Capitals since it was "not within the spirit of the game".

On his Youtube channel, Ashiwn said, "The moment I did that, the spirit of cricket was brought into play. All this is fine what we should know what the spirit of cricket is."

Moved out of India due to rising cases of COVID-19, the 13th edition of the world's biggest T20 league will be held across three venues in the UAE from September 19 to November 10.

The ace spinner also gave a lowdown on life in a bio-bubble.

"It's been really boring, we are really looking forward to getting our balls and bats. Basically it's the same room and place, a six-day quarantine. It's really difficult.

"But our team, Delhi Capitals, have done a brilliant thing. Our team captain Shreyas Iyer loves magic. He has been doing that on social media a lot. A Zoom call with a magician was organised to engage us. It was 45 minutes of everyone having fun.

"In fact, our coach Ricky Ponting was also there, and he enjoyed it too. It was a good break. Also, COVID tests. They break our noses with nasal swabs at least twice a week. It's very painful."

The players and support staff underwent a mandatory six-day quarantine after arriving in the UAE and will be tested every five days during their stay here.

"Apart from that, there are many protocols. We have this dog leash kind of thing. We can't leave our rooms without it. It's to track our movement. This is basically and alarm of sorts when players are in proximity, and to stop us from forming crowds.

"If we do, this alerts officials, and we will get a call to disperse. They said this also triggers an alarm."

"They explained this to all of us on a Zoom call. Someone asked will wife too need one, since she is touring with him. They said it's a mandate for this bio-bubble, for wives, children, or anyone else.

"So he replied, 'but we will be in the same room and nearby all the time'. We all died laughing."

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...n-on-mankading-but-agrees-with-penalty/359736

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Suresh Raina: 'When bio-bubble is not safe how does one take a chance?'

"When the bio-bubble is not safe how does one take a chance? I have a family with two little kids and elderly parents," Raina told Outlook. "For me returning to the family was more important.

"It was a tough decision. CSK is also like my family but when the face of my kids surfaced in Dubai and the Covid situation was not looking good, I decided to return."

https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/cr...does-one-take-a-chance/ar-BB18D6xs?li=AAggbRN

[MENTION=3327]Indiafan[/MENTION] See money is not everything. Just wait and watch, more players will pull out of this stupid league hosted during one of the toughest time on this planet. May be now you will realize why Australia postponed WT20?

 

[MenInG]

The Chennai Super Kings squad, barring the two players who tested positive for coronavirus last week, is likely to train from Friday subject to clearance after a second round of testing was conducted on Thursday.

Deepak Chahar was among the two players to have tested positive last week and overall 13 members of CSK contingent were infected with the deadly virus, raising safety concerns ahead of the IPL beginning here on September 19.

“Tests were done today. Results will come late night or tomorrow morning,” a CSK official told PTI.

Earlier, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had said that the team will start training from Friday after the second round of testing.

The coronavirus-free players were made to undergo two additional tests after 13 cases were confirmed last week, delaying the team’s training.

All players had undergone three tests as per BCCI SOP in the six days of quarantine upon arrival on August 21.

The two infected players will be undergoing two tests after completing their 14-day quarantine.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...from-friday/story-IFqPgWP8a0R9D6yhA2jTXP.html

 

[MenInG]

Three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered yet another blow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 as veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has reportedly pulled out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) event, citing personal reasons.

The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led outfit was already dealing with a double whammy following the coronavirus infection of 12 members, including two players, and the exit of batting mainstay, Suresh Raina.

"I have informed the CSK management about my decision to pull out of this year's IPL. I have decided to take a break due to personal reasons in these difficult times. I expect that everyone would respect my need for privacy," Harbhajan said.

Harbhajan is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of IPL with 150 wickets.

The 13th edition to the world's premier T20 cricket league, which has been moved out of India due to the COVID-19 pandemic.], starts on September 19.

There was speculation that the 40-year-old might pull out of the tournament due to personal reasons. But the CSK were playing safe, denying such a development. In fact, franchise CEO KS Viswanathan had declined to comment on the issue.

For the record, CSK has three front-line spinners apart from Harbhajan -- Imran Tahir, Mitchell Santner and Piyush Chawla.

The three-time IPL champions had arrived in the UAE along with defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore on August 21.

Meanwhile, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and all other players, except for the COVID-19 afflicted duo of Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, will start training today evening after clearing a third round of testing for the virus in Dubai.

"The training starts from today. All others, apart from the 13, tested negative for the third time. Those who tested positive will only be tested after the isolation period (two weeks) is over," Viswanathan said.

It means that CSK are in line to play the opener, against Mumbai Indians on September 19.
Traditionally, the finalists from the previous edition take on each other in the first match.

All other teams, except CSK, have started training.

The fixtures are likely to announce today, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly.

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...harbhajan-singh-also-pulls-out-reports/359808

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dear Friends<br>I will not be playing IPL this year due to personal reasons.These are difficult times and I would expect some privacy as I spend time with my family. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> CSK management has been extremely supportive and I wish them a great IPL<br>Stay safe and Jai Hind</p>— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1301841378943492096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Vastunna]

Suresh Raina: 'When bio-bubble is not safe how does one take a chance?'

"When the bio-bubble is not safe how does one take a chance? I have a family with two little kids and elderly parents," Raina told Outlook. "For me returning to the family was more important.

"It was a tough decision. CSK is also like my family but when the face of my kids surfaced in Dubai and the Covid situation was not looking good, I decided to return."

https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/cr...does-one-take-a-chance/ar-BB18D6xs?li=AAggbRN


[MENTION=3327]Indiafan[/MENTION] See money is not everything. Just wait and watch, more players will pull out of this stupid league hosted during one of the toughest time on this planet. May be now you will realize why Australia postponed WT20?

For a person who claims to hate absolutely everything about IPL, you spend an awful lot of time talking about it. Even us IPL supporters don't spend 24*7 of our time on IPL .

 

[King_Kohli]

Players opted out of IPL 2020 thus far:

•Suresh Raina.
•Lasith Malinga.
•Harbhajan Singh.
•Kane Richardson.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Expect they are having an utter nightmare trying to finalize the schedule for the tournament. Probably be better served to limit all the matches to Sharjah and Dubai, given the restrictions in Abu Dhabi.

 

[Sami92]

Personally, I feel it's better for all the teams to be based in Dubai (KKR & MI are Abu Dhabi based) & play all the matches in Dubai (& Sharjah if possible).

 

[Savak]

Players opted out of IPL 2020 thus far:

•Suresh Raina.
•Lasith Malinga.
•Harbhajan Singh.
•Kane Richardson.

Kane Williamson is not convinced about coming to the IPL either. Trust me, as the number of positive cases go up, a lot of players are going to be under pressure from their families to pull out. Honestly speaking the BCCI should have in good spirit sucked up their losses for one season in the larger public health interest. This greed for money is putting the players and officials under unnecessary risk.

 

[Rajdeep]

Kane Williamson is not convinced about coming to the IPL either. Trust me, as the number of positive cases go up, a lot of players are going to be under pressure from their families to pull out. Honestly speaking the BCCI should have in good spirit sucked up their losses for one season in the larger public health interest. This greed for money is putting the players and officials under unnecessary risk.

This will be the most watched IPL ever considering how much cricket starved Indians are. Considering the challenging year we are in, it is expected that few players will miss out. But overall the tournament will be huge success.

 

[Savak]

This will be the most watched IPL ever considering how much cricket starved Indians are. Considering the challenging year we are in, it is expected that few players will miss out. But overall the tournament will be huge success.

How can the tournament be a success when players are pulling at the last minute or in the middle of the tournament and if the number of Positive Covid Cases among the staff, players goes up? Not good for the image of the IPL.

 

[King_Kohli]

Kane Williamson is not convinced about coming to the IPL either. Trust me, as the number of positive cases go up, a lot of players are going to be under pressure from their families to pull out. Honestly speaking the BCCI should have in good spirit sucked up their losses for one season in the larger public health interest. This greed for money is putting the players and officials under unnecessary risk.

He is already in UAE
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Look who's on his way to UAE &#55357;&#56845;&#55358;&#56801;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeArmy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OrangeArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/ULHyOXOLps">pic.twitter.com/ULHyOXOLps</a></p>— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers/status/1301398737848135680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[U$ofA]

How can the tournament be a success when players are pulling at the last minute or in the middle of the tournament and if the number of Positive Covid Cases among the staff, players goes up? Not good for the image of the IPL.

I think there will no effect at all on the image. Positive or negative. The league will continue to be played in the coming years. Sponsors and broadcasters will continue to bring in the $$$ to the league. Players will continue to put their hands up for the auctions. The fans will continue to show up in the stadiums and in front of tv.

This is a circumstance like no other. I personally think this year's edition should be called off. But then, I do not have any $$ riding on it. So I can see where the league is coming from on this.

 

[King_Kohli]

How can the tournament be a success when players are pulling at the last minute or in the middle of the tournament and if the number of Positive Covid Cases among the staff, players goes up? Not good for the image of the IPL.

Thats not going to be happen.

This IPL going to be most watched IPL ever, only TV viewership expecting of 550 million+

 

[U$ofA]

Thats not going to be happen.

This IPL going to be most watched IPL ever, only TV viewership expecting of 550 million+

That's an insane number. Even at half that, Star Sports will be hearing the $$$ ring.

 

[King_Kohli]

That's an insane number. Even at half that, Star Sports will be hearing the $$$ ring.

Yes

2019: TV viewership 462 million viewers

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

For a person who claims to hate absolutely everything about IPL, you spend an awful lot of time talking about it. Even us IPL supporters don't spend 24*7 of our time on IPL .

This is getting old. Try something creative. I am not posting in your tamasha cricket match thread and discussing on field strategies of any of your IPL team here.

There is a serious health concern for Indian players and how much rest they will get before their next international tour. I know its going to go over your head but you can't stop people from posting about their dislikes as well. You are trying to kill the purpose of a discussion forum.

And I was right about more players pulling out of this nonsense league and money is not everything. Bhajji pulls out too.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

How can the tournament be a success when players are pulling at the last minute or in the middle of the tournament and if the number of Positive Covid Cases among the staff, players goes up? Not good for the image of the IPL.

IPL doesn't have a good image anyway.

 

[Abdullah719]

Schedule to be announced tomorrow it seems.

 

[Rajdeep]

Schedule to be announced tomorrow it seems.

Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings will be 1st match played at Abu Dhabi as per reports.

 

[OldWarHorse]

I dont mind some of these veterans opting out if it mean game time to some of the top prospects. Way too many oldies still up and around these IPL teams based on their reputations who should make way for younger cricketers.

 

[JattMaula]

I dont mind some of these veterans opting out if it mean game time to some of the top prospects. Way too many oldies still up and around these IPL teams based on their reputations who should make way for younger cricketers.

Yep. Hopefully 2 under thirty players will play for CSK in those vacancies. Gaikwad and Sai Kishore are good enough players.

 

[MenInG]

BENGALURU: Australia cricketers landed in England in the last week of August for the ongoing limited-overs series. After the completion of the series on September 16, some of the Aussies and Englishmen, including Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Jos Buttler and others, are scheduled to fly directly to the United Arab Emirates for IPL 2020.

While players are used to long tours, this will be a different one as by the time the IPL ends on November 10 and Australians return home, it will be 80 days away from their family.

Australia players have in the past been allowed to carry their family with them on tours, but in the post-COVID world, there are many restrictions in place. In fact, they will also have very little time to spend with their family as Australia are scheduled to play Afghanistan and India in their summer.

Vice-captain Cummins acknowledges the challenge. “In terms of the mental challenge over here, for sure, it is a long tour and when you add the IPL, you probably go on, especially without seeing your families. The important thing is you have to be prepared and come up with a game plan to manage yourself,” said Cummins in a virtual press conference on Saturday.

The challenge does not end there. There are some major protocols in place for the entire duration of the league, where players have to stay inside a bio-secure environment. It is something similar to what the England and Australia players have been following in the current series. In that regard at least, it is not going to be something new.

It is the new norm and players have to get adjusted to the fact of playing without fans and staying in a bio-bubble as well, at least till the COVID-19 situation improves.

The cases in the UAE for the last couple of days have also seen a spike, but Cummins is not too worried about it and is rather confident from what he has heard about the strict measures in place in the UAE.

“In terms of safety, I have got no worries at all, hearing about the length that they have gone to protect the tournament, the players, staff, it is huge. Here in England too, no stones have been left unturned, we feel really safe and I am sure that it is going to be the same in the UAE as well from whatever I have heard. I know it is going to be a bit different to what an IPL normally feels like, but I hope the cricket is the same,” added the Kolkata Knight Riders pacer.

The other challenging factor could be the weather. They have to get used to the heat and humidity in the gulf for the next two months. But, with the likes of Cummins having played in the UAE, against Pakistan last year, he is aware how tough it could get.

“I have played in the UAE when it is super hot and that is a nightmare, so we will see. I do not know exactly how hot and humid it is now,” said Cummins, who will be eager to help his team beat England in the second T20I at Rose Bowl on Sunday after their loss in the first game.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/sp...ied--about-covid-19-cases-in-ipl-2193039.html

 

[Indiafan]

How can the tournament be a success when players are pulling at the last minute or in the middle of the tournament and if the number of Positive Covid Cases among the staff, players goes up? Not good for the image of the IPL.

A couple of players on the verge of retirement pulling out doesnt affect anything. Almost all foreign players are coming despite everything

 

[Indiafan]

Suresh Raina: 'When bio-bubble is not safe how does one take a chance?'

"When the bio-bubble is not safe how does one take a chance? I have a family with two little kids and elderly parents," Raina told Outlook. "For me returning to the family was more important.

"It was a tough decision. CSK is also like my family but when the face of my kids surfaced in Dubai and the Covid situation was not looking good, I decided to return."

https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/cr...does-one-take-a-chance/ar-BB18D6xs?li=AAggbRN


[MENTION=3327]Indiafan[/MENTION] See money is not everything. Just wait and watch, more players will pull out of this stupid league hosted during one of the toughest time on this planet. May be now you will realize why Australia postponed WT20?

because one player developed claustrophobia? So who are the more players pulling out?

 

[Indiafan]

Kane Williamson is not convinced about coming to the IPL either. Trust me, as the number of positive cases go up, a lot of players are going to be under pressure from their families to pull out. Honestly speaking the BCCI should have in good spirit sucked up their losses for one season in the larger public health interest. This greed for money is putting the players and officials under unnecessary risk.

Why will the number of cases go up? Already the other csk players and staff have been tested and cleared for playing

I domt see this any different than PCB going forward with their English tour despite multiple players testing positive

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Players opted out of IPL 2020 thus far:

•Suresh Raina.
•Lasith Malinga.
•Harbhajan Singh.
•Kane Richardson.

[MENTION=3327]Indiafan[/MENTION] One player lol?

 

[Indiafan]

[MENTION=3327]Indiafan[/MENTION] One player lol?

Harbhajans mom is seriously ill and he has already lost his father a few years ago. He is the only close family member she has and he has been with her recently because of her illness

Kane richards wants to be there for the birth of his first baby, otherwise he won't be able to see it for months

Neither of these reasons are to do wtih IPL

Apart from kane, all 3 of these players are on the verge of retirement.

 

[Rajdeep]

Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings will be 1st match played at Abu Dhabi as per reports.

IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians to begin against Chennai Super Kings

The delayed competition will be played across the UAE, with Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi hosting the matches.

The 56-game tournament begins on 19 September, with the final taking place on 10 November.

Mumbai won a record fourth IPL title with a one-run victory over Chennai in May 2019.

The IPL, which usually takes place between March and May, has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of England's World Cup-winning team will be playing in the competition, including captain Eoin Morgan, opener Jonny Bairstow, fast bowler Jofra Archer and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/cricket/54048690

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians to begin against Chennai Super Kings

The delayed competition will be played across the UAE, with Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi hosting the matches.

The 56-game tournament begins on 19 September, with the final taking place on 10 November.

Mumbai won a record fourth IPL title with a one-run victory over Chennai in May 2019.

The IPL, which usually takes place between March and May, has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of England's World Cup-winning team will be playing in the competition, including captain Eoin Morgan, opener Jonny Bairstow, fast bowler Jofra Archer and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/cricket/54048690

56 games lol? I can see one of our main bowler getting injured before Aus tour and our fans giving an excuse.

 

[Rajdeep]

56 games lol? I can see one of our main bowler getting injured before Aus tour and our fans giving an excuse.

We will beat Australia again, like last tour.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

We will beat Australia again, like last tour.

Post bookmarked. Make sure you stay here with this id.

 

[The Viper]

IPL 2020: Delhi Capitals assistant physiotherapist tests positive for Covid-19

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) is all set to get underway from September 19 in the UAE but cases of Covid-19 continue to trickle in among the franchises. Delhi Capitals on Sunday confirmed that a member of the support staff has tested positive for Covid-19 during the third round of testing.

“Delhi Capitals Assistant Physiotherapist has tested positive for COVID-19. He was going through his mandatory quarantine, and had tested negative for his first two tests conducted on arrival in Dubai, and tested positive for the third one,” the franchise informed through a press release.

“He was yet to meet with, and had not been in contact with any players or staff of the franchise. He was isolated immediately, and is currently at the IPL Isolation Facility in Dubai for the next 14 days, at the end of which he will have to produce two negative reports for him to be able to join the Delhi Capitals squad. The franchise’s medical team is in constant touch with him, and wishes him a speedy recovery,” the release further stated.

The development comes on a day when the BCCI came out with the full schedule of IPL 2020. The bio-secure bubble was earlier breached when several members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent tested positive for Covid-19, which also included two players.

While CSK will take on Mumbai Indians in the opening encounter, Delhi Capitals will play Kings XI Punjab on September 20 in the second match of the season.

https://m.hindustantimes.com/cricke...or-covid-19/story-ad8h0nkvuFr7jNsIwhqUnO.html

 

[MenInG]

The coronavirus pandemic has stalled Indian cricket for close to six months. With IPL 2020 beginning in the next 13 days, the tournament is the first major outing for Indian stars ever since April. However, Kolkata Knight Riders chief mentor David Hussey has admitted that it will be tough for some players to hit the ground running especially since there has been no cricket for the last couple of months. Hussey, who was appointed the chief mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in November 2019, however, said that many players have just jumped upon the opportunity that they can just go out and play.

Speaking in the virtual press conference, Hussey said that with many nations not playing cricket for a long time and with overseas conditions, IPL 2020 is a level playing field like the rest of the editions.

“There are no clear favourites. It will be difficult for some of the players to come out after no cricket for 5-6 months and hit the ground running. It will be tough. We are playing in foreign conditions as well. Playing without any fans is fine. It is a privilege to play cricket again. To have witnessed the struggles throughout the world, there has not been much of sports. I know the guys are just eager to go out there and play. Even if it is in front of no crowds, the boys will put in 100 per cent,” Hussey said from Abu Dhabi.

https://www.dnaindia.com/cricket/re...-months-kkr-chief-mentor-david-hussey-2841487

 

[MenInG]

A giant in domestic cricket, Wasim Jaffer delighted the purists with his classical shot-making that fetched him five hundreds from 31 Test matches.

Having ended his 24-year first class career in March this year with 57 first class hundreds, Jaffer is now in the UAE as the Kings XI Punjab's batting coach.

During an interview with Khaleej Times, the unassuming Mumbaikar opened up on the bio-secure bubble and how the IPL has changed the game in India.

After all the uncertainties, the IPL is finally happening. What does to mean to cricket?

We are playing again, that's the best thing. It was very good to see England taking the initiative when they hosted the West Indies and Pakistan. I think the fans around the world now will be happy to see the players coming out in the IPL to entertain the public with all the precautions in place.

How have the players coped with the bio-secure bubble?

In a way it's good because the players will concentrate on cricket more than anything else, especially the youngsters, their mind won't get diverted. Now they will only think about cricket. They will only go out to practise and play matches and come back to their hotel rooms. There will not be any distractions. So this bio-secure bubble is a blessing in disguise for lot of young players.

You have already done a few training sessions after completing the six-day quarantine. Have they players found their rhythm? Most of them haven't played cricket after all for so many months due to the pandemic.

The Kings XI batsman, they looked in very good shape in the practice sessions here. We can only judge them when they go out and play matches. We will be playing a couple of friendly games, that will probably get them into match scenario. But looking at how they are practising, they are all looking in good shape. Being professional sportsmen, I don't think it will take them long time to find their top rhythm.

Kings XI Punjab have a strong line-up with players like KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Shami, James Neesham and Sheldon Cottrell. What is the goal for this season?

Looking at our squad, looking at our support staff, the new captain (Rahul), I have got to say we have a very strong chance to do well. Also, the Kings XI had a very good record in the UAE in 2014. That's something good to start with. With KL being the captain, I think he has got a very good temperament. (Our head coach) Anil Kumble is pretty similar. They come from the same city (Bangalore). The combination is pretty good. It's just about starting the tournament well.

We all know the big stars. But who are the best under 21 Indian players in this year's IPL?

In our team, we have Prabhsimran Singh. He is a wicketkeeper-batsman. We picked him last year. He didn't get many opportunities, but he is a good striker of the ball. Of course, Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals) is the one to look out for. Also, Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals) and Priyam Garg (Sunrisers Hyderabad), both of them are very good talent. Then Kartik Tyagi is a very promising pace bowler and Ravi Bishnoi (Kings XI) is a very good leg spinner.

As a batting coach, what will be your advice to young batsmen in terms of maintaining a balance between T20s and longer formats of the game?

Having a strong basic technique always helps in any format. If you look at the great players like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, they have got a very strong technique. They can survive the initial phase when the bowlers are on top. After that you can extend it to match scenario, what kind of situation you are playing. Everybody in the batting order -- from number one to six -- has got a different role. Being a batting coach, my job is to make them understand their role.

There would perhaps be no one better than you to talk about how IPL has changed Indian cricket, especially the domestic game. After all, you made your first class debut in 2006, 12 years before the IPL started and you ended your career in 2020, exactly 12 years after the first IPL. You have seen it all.

The IPL has definitely helped lot of youngsters as it has given them that platform to perform at their best against the best. Now we have domestic players that get to play against Kohli, Gayle, Maxwell. They play in front of packed stadiums, so that changes the temperament of the players. Once they experience that, they are not scared when they are thrown into international cricket. And players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, they would not have come to notice if they had not played IPL. They had not played too many first class matches, but because they had strong performances in the IPL, they were fast tracked to the Indian team. That has helped Indian cricket. So the IPL has helped financially and it has also given lot of young players the chance to show their skills

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/sports...bubble-is-a-blessing-in-disguise-says-jaffer-

 

[MenInG]

Full schedule



https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...ngs-kkr-rcb-csk-rr-dc-srh/article32259845.ece

 

[Rajdeep]

Players opted out of IPL 2020 thus far:

•Suresh Raina.
•Lasith Malinga.
•Harbhajan Singh.
•Kane Richardson.

Its not that big a loss though apart from maybe Raina. Malinga is replaced by a better and younger bowler in James Pattinson. Kane Richardson is hardly a miss and Bhajji? Lol.

 

[MenInG]

The Indian Premier League will kick off from the United Arab Emirates in 2020. The BCCI decided to hold the 13th edition of the league in the UAE as Covid-19 cases continued to mount in India. It will start on September 19th with Chennai Super Kings facing defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Most of the sporting events have taken place without the presence of crowds and IPL will also be played this year in empty stadiums. Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris believes the absence of big crowd may not be an issue for overseas players but could pose a problem for Indian players.

“I don’t think there will be too much of an adjustment for the overseas players. A lot of the overseas players play in front of small crowds or even empty grounds on a regular basis, so they will be used to that. But you are right, Indian players, I can’t remember. I mean Kohli, 10 years ago, most of those players have been around long enough now. They won’t struggle, but they will just wonder where they are and look for that energy in other ways,” Scott Styris said on the Cricket Connected Show on Star Sports.

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar also spoke on the issue saying that it could feel odd in the initial games but players would be happy that the tournament is taking place.

“Might be a bit odd for the first couple of games, but at the end of the day, you are grateful enough that the tournament is taking place. You are getting to play some cricket. A lot of these guys are at the peak of their careers, not having cricket for six months, that’s a huge loss when you are doing so well in your career,” Agarkar said on the show.

“So, they will be very excited to actually play the tournament. It might be little odd at the start, but like Scotty (Scot Styris) said, that energy sometimes you get from crowds, particularly in India, the IPL has moved to the UAE, but in India, it can sometimes act like a 12th man for the home team.”

The BCCI has issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for the Indian Premier League 2020 (IPL 2020) to the franchises which relate to testing, accommodation, social distancing at the ground, and in hotels, the appointment of team doctors, and various other aspects. The BCCI has instructed the IPL franchises clearly to minimize the contact.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...in-ipl-2020/story-K3ymuGxsj7CMtjXvl101mJ.html

 

[MenInG]

The England and Australia cricketers arriving from the UK for the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates are likely to be under six-day mandatory quarantine.

There would not be any relaxation for the players coming from Caribbean Premier League either. The tournament gets over on September 10 and the players are likely to reach the UAE by September 12.

The limited-overs series between England and Australia gets over on September 16. The players will arrive in the UAE the next day and if they are under quarantine till September 22, some are likely to miss the first game of their respective franchises.

Rajasthan Royals will be the worst-hit side as it could miss out on the services of its captain Steve Smith, Jofra Archer, Tom Curran and Jos Buttler for the first match against Chennai Super Kings on September 22.

Even Sunrisers Hyderabad — which begins its campaign on September 21 against Royal Challengers Bangalore — will miss David Warner, Johny Bairstow, Mitchell Marsh for the opener.

With the number of cases going up and 13 members of the Chennai Super Kings affected with the virus, the board does not want to lower its guard. “As per the protocol, the players will have to be under quarantine for six days and once they clear the tests, they will be allowed to train,” an official said. However, the franchises claim they are yet to hear anything officially.

Upon arrival, the players will be tested on the first, third and sixth day.

The Australia and England players who will be travelling from the UK

Rajasthan Royals: Steve Smith, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Andrew Tye, Jofra Archer

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Aaron Finch, Adam Zampa, Joshua Phillippe, Moeen Ali

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Billy Stanlake, Jonny Bairstow

Kolkata Knight Riders: Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Tom Banton

Kings XI Punjab: Glenn Maxwell, Chris Jordan

Delhi Capitals: Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...arantine-uae-cricket-news/article32545521.ece

 

[OldWarHorse]

The England and Australia cricketers arriving from the UK for the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates are likely to be under six-day mandatory quarantine.

There would not be any relaxation for the players coming from Caribbean Premier League either. The tournament gets over on September 10 and the players are likely to reach the UAE by September 12.

The limited-overs series between England and Australia gets over on September 16. The players will arrive in the UAE the next day and if they are under quarantine till September 22, some are likely to miss the first game of their respective franchises.

Rajasthan Royals will be the worst-hit side as it could miss out on the services of its captain Steve Smith, Jofra Archer, Tom Curran and Jos Buttler for the first match against Chennai Super Kings on September 22.

Even Sunrisers Hyderabad — which begins its campaign on September 21 against Royal Challengers Bangalore — will miss David Warner, Johny Bairstow, Mitchell Marsh for the opener.

With the number of cases going up and 13 members of the Chennai Super Kings affected with the virus, the board does not want to lower its guard. “As per the protocol, the players will have to be under quarantine for six days and once they clear the tests, they will be allowed to train,” an official said. However, the franchises claim they are yet to hear anything officially.

Upon arrival, the players will be tested on the first, third and sixth day.

The Australia and England players who will be travelling from the UK

Rajasthan Royals: Steve Smith, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Andrew Tye, Jofra Archer

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Aaron Finch, Adam Zampa, Joshua Phillippe, Moeen Ali

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Billy Stanlake, Jonny Bairstow

Kolkata Knight Riders: Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Tom Banton

Kings XI Punjab: Glenn Maxwell, Chris Jordan

Delhi Capitals: Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...arantine-uae-cricket-news/article32545521.ece

The Royals hit badly. But would surely mean Jaiswal, Tyagi and Rawat get game time. All of them huge prospects.

 

[Sidilicious]

The Royals hit badly. But would surely mean Jaiswal, Tyagi and Rawat get game time. All of them huge prospects.

what abut nagarkoti? is he in any of the teams?

 

[OldWarHorse]

what abut nagarkoti? is he in any of the teams?

Yeah he is with KKR, has been with them since 2018 but missed out due to injuries. A good team for team India prospects with Gill, Rana, Krishna, Mavi and Nagarkoti.

 

[Sidilicious]

Yeah he is with KKR, has been with them since 2018 but missed out due to injuries. A good team for team India prospects with Gill, Rana, Krishna, Mavi and Nagarkoti.

Hope he is playing this year though.

We have some good prospects. Hopefully our A team tours will resume soon too so that these kids can get regular chances to play in alien conditions.

 

[MenInG]

Anil Kumble is working on his Punjabi accent. It is one of the things the former India captain and coach --- and one of the two players ever to take 10 wickets in a Test innings --- is learning ahead of this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

As head coach of Kings XI Punjab, Kumble is “trying to speak with the Punjabi boys in as much Punjabi accent” as his Kannada tongue allows. It’s part of familiarisation with the team before the tournament starts on September 19.

Kumble is lucky to try such things in an IPL franchise, unlike other Indian coaches who haven’t found a top seat at the helm of any of the other seven franchises.

Kumble can’t help but see irony in the situation. “I can’t answer that question (why other teams don’t have Indian head coaches). I don’t think it gives a true reflection of the quality or the availability of the Indian resources. It’s bit of an irony right? It’s the Indian Premier League and then you have only one Indian as the head coach. I am hopeful that there will be more Indian coaches in the mix,” said Kumble during an interaction from Dubai on Tuesday.

The remaining seven IPL franchises have foreigners as head coaches: Brendon McCullum (Kolkata Knight Riders); Ricky Ponting (Delhi Capitals); Andrew McDonald (Rajasthan Royals); Mahela Jayawardene (Mumbai Indians); Trevor Bayliss (Sunrisers Hyderabad); Stephen Fleming (Chennai Super Kings) and Simon Katich (Royal Challengers Bangalore).

Prior to Kumble, only three Indians have coached in IPL: Lalchand Rajput (MI), Robin Singh (SRH) and Venkatesh Prasad (RCB).

“The reason I have taken up this assignment with KXIP is that we have great a squad to go all the way. That’s my role, to prepare the team. This is first time I am meeting the squad. Because of Covid, we have got to spend a longer time with the team. Otherwise, it’s just one week before the tournament,” said Kumble.

“I think our first goal is to prepare the team to achieve a common purpose, that of winning the IPL. It’s not only about me imparting knowledge. Our intention is to help the players in their careers. I know two months is a short time but at least, we will try and help them, especially (in) building fitness, preparing for a match.”

Gayle’s leadership role

Kumble wants senior KXIP players such as Chris Gayle take a more active role. “The youngsters look up to him. It’s just not Chris the batsman we are looking at but also Chris in a leadership role, in terms developing players. We have chats about him contributing. He has been with us for three to four days and he has been very keen,” said Kumble.

Gayle’s inputs and experience will be all the more needed as KXIP have a new captain in KL Rahul. “I have seen KL from a young age. He has captained in junior matches before but this will be the first time that he will be captaining in a high-profile tournament. He has been brilliant so far, very relaxed. He knows the players more than me. He has been with the team for two years now. He has been in the scene (top level cricket) for 10 years now. He knows the nuances of what it takes to be as a leader,” said Kumble.

He said crucial additions in the squad would help the KXIP go deep in the IPL. “We have a strong team. We needed an impact player in the middle. So we have got Glenn Maxwell. He can be an impact player not just with the bat but also with his spin. Also, we needed a fast bowler at the death and Sheldon Cottrell will help us there,” said Kumble.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...anil-kumble/story-TRkgRckhQWJypbBCtJukgI.html