IPL 2020: When CSK players breach COVID-19 protocol!

Chennai Super Kings have landed themselves in deep trouble. The team which will have to play the Indian Premier League opener against Mumbai Indians on September 19 is compelled to serve an extended quarantine. At least, until August 31. Feared to be running up to a week prior to the IPL Season 13 start date.

The highly-touted bio-secure bubble has been breached even before the CSK’SIPL tour party could hit the ground in the UAE. Who is to be blamed? Chennai Super Kings themselves if the virus didn’t enter the camp accidentally! And, it did not!

Maybe a player or two could have been or would have been, infected accidentally. But the massive spread to reported 12 to 13 members of the camp is a result of utter carelessness.

The players and support staff have breached protocols liberally. During the domestic flights to Chennai and then onboard the Vistara Airlines special chartered flight from Chennai to Dubai.

Pictures shared proudly on the team and players’ social media handles won’t lie. They rather make startling revelations.

MUMBAI INDIANS 1CSK FLIGHT 3

How the CSK contingent travelled to the UAE is a study in complete contrast to how Mumbai Indians took precautions beyond expectations to ensure foolproof protection from the virus.

SportzFront had report 30 stringent measures the Mumbai Indians have followed to eliminate the virus threat.

Also read: Mumbai Indians’ 30 steps into bio-secure bubble

None of the MI tour parties could be seen without a mask on their flight to the UAE. In contrast, it will be a struggle to find a mask in the CSK camp onboard the Vistara flight to the UAE.

There lies the problem. Had the CSK team been as cautious as their counterparts from Mumbai, there won’t have been the novel coronavirus blast in the camp.

“A person to two could have been infected and become carriers. But the rest exposed themselves to the threat in the flight where the virus could fly in all directions due to the central air-conditioning system,” says senior pulmonologist Dr GS Rathee. “Virus can be anywhere and everywhere. The moment you take things for granted, you allow the virus to survive and thrive.”

POSITIVE REPORTS FROM THE SECOND TEST

SportzFront has reliably learnt that the positive reports were received following the second tests, which were carried on the third day of CSK’s arrival in Dubai. But the team management kept the reports under the wraps while enforcing the measures more strictly. It was, however, already too late.

It is learnt that more than one player and a top executive are among the infected people. The report of the fourth test is expected by Sunday. A formal statement from the CSK camp might come thereafter.

If the setback of the COVID-19 infections was not enough to upset the team’s game plan, another major blow is dealt with as Suresh Raina, according to the team, has returned home due to “personal reasons”.

Also read: Suresh Raina pulls out of IPL 2020, confirms CSK

Admin Sportz Front

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