The medical partner of the T20 tournament said:
On Thursday (10-09-2020), the medical partner of the T20 league said that during the 13th edition of IPL, more than 20,000 COVID-19 tests will be taken place.
The cash-rich tournament is scheduled to be started on 19th September in the UAE this year due to heavy cases of pandemic and likely with no audience.
A maximum of the 200 cricketers from the eight squads reached UAE last month and spent their mandatory six days quarantine period in their respective hotel rooms.
After their arrival in the UAE, they were tested for COVID-19 and after two days, again tested. After two back-to-back tests, they are allowed to enter in the bio-secure bubble.
The rule is the same for the umpires, supporting staff, organizers, officials of BCCI, and other members.
On Wednesday (09-09-2020), the official medical partner of IPL, VPS Healthcare revealed that so far they have tested 3,500 tests.
A spokesman told AFP “During the league, we will conduct more than 20,000 tests. The cricketers and other officials are strictly allowed to move only hotels and stadiums. “
The organizers faced some difficulty after the Chennai Super Kings team landed last month in UAE and 11 officials along with 2 players tested COVID-19 positive.
Because of personal reasons, two fantastic players of CSK, senior batsman Suresh Raina and outstanding spinner Harbhajan Singh have opted out of the tournament.
Jason Roy of Delhi Capitals, Lasith Malinga of Mumbai Indians also pulled out their names while Kane Richardson withdraws from the tournament due to birth of his first child.
With all these constraints also, the T20 league is going to start with defending champion Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi.
Overall, 20 matches will be held in Abu Dhabi, 24 in Dubai, and 12 in Sharjah.
