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No bio-bubble from India-South Africa series onwards: Jay Shah
Follow UsSince the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, players staying in a bio-secure bubble had become a norm
India play five T20 Internationals (T20I) against South Africa following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. While the IPL is being played in a bio-secure bubble, the same would not be extended to the T20I series against the Proteas, starting June 9.
“If I’m not wrong, the bio-bubble for IPL 2022 was the last. For the India-South Africa series onwards, players will be tested (for covid), but will not be any bio-bubble,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah told TOI in an exclusive interview on Friday (May 27).
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, players staying in a bio-secure bubble has become a norm. Shah reckons the players are happier in the bubble when their families also stay with them.
“Yes, it’s tough for the players. However, they got a family-like atmosphere inside the hotel bio-bubble," Shah said.
"In the case of the IPL, we had hotels dedicated to each team. The whole tournament was held at one place. All the teams had their lounges, and recreational centres (to relax and unwind). So, they also enjoyed it."
Despite the Covid-19 outbreak in the Delhi Capitals (DC) camp, Shah stressed the importance of players' health but also insisted that the show must go on. “My reaction was that ‘we’ve to move on.’ For us, the safety and security of the players is paramount, but still, we decided to move on," the BCCI secretary said.
"We shifted DC’s match from Pune to Mumbai. We got all the players/support staff struck by covid treated properly. We kept conducting RT-PCR tests for DC’s members on a daily basis. Fortunately, all DC members were fine later."
Shah also thanked those involved in organising 70 IPL 2022 matches in Mumbai and Pune.
“We want to thank them for helping us out. If we had conducted the IPL in entire India, and there was a covid outbreak, then everyone would’ve suffered-both the players and the BCCI would’ve suffered financial losses," Shah said.
"We organized it in Mumbai and Pune because we could do away with air travel for the teams. Ground transport was enough,” he added.
The IPL 2022 will reach its conclusion with the final between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29).