IPL 2020: BCCI to spend around ₹10 crore on COVID-19 testing

The Board of Control for Cricket in India will spend around ₹ 10 crores on the novel coronavirus tests of the Indian Premier League squads and other associates during their stay in the UAE.

The teams had started arriving in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from August 20. The periodic tests will continue till November 10, the scheduled date for the IPL 2020 final.

The eight IPL franchisees have taken the cost of the COVID-19 tests in India ahead of flying to the UAE. But the board will foot the bill for all the tests to be carried out during the teams’ stay in the UAE.

BCCI had tied up with VPS Healthcare for the COVID-19 tests of the IPL tour party. The UAE-based multiple hospital and healthcare chain will carry out over 20,000 tests during the teams’ 93-day stay in the UAE.

” BCCI will be spending something in the tune of ₹10 crores for the COVID tests. Around 75 healthcare workers who are part of the company are a part of the IPL testing process,” an anonymous BCCI official has told PTI.

During the first week of mandatory testing when the teams were confined to quarantine in their respective hotels, 13 members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent have been found infected with the novel coronavirus.

The BCCI doesn’t want to leave anything to chance as far as the safety of players and officials are 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 to the 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,” the official informed.

A total of 1,988 COVID tests have been carried out between August 20 and 28 across all those involved with the tournament, including players and support staff.

Admin Sportz Front

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