IPL 2021: RCB arranges charter flight for Kohli, Siraj to fly UAE

India skipper Virat Kohli and pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, who both represent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will reach the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on a charter flight from London, the franchise has announced.

The duo will reach Dubai on Sunday morning on a flight arranged by their franchise.

“Keeping the safety and security of our players as the utmost priority, Royal Challengers Bangalore have arranged a special charter flight for captain Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj to ensure their safe transit to the UAE,” said RCB in a statement on Saturday.

“The players will be flying out at 11.30 PM (UK time) on Saturday and will arrive in Dubai early Sunday morning. Both, Virat and Siraj will undergo 6-day quarantine in Dubai before joining the team bio-secure bubble,”it added.

Earlier, the fifth and final Test between India and England, that was scheduled to begin on Friday, was cancelled due to the emergence of a Covid-19 case in the Indian camp as assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar had tested positive a few days after head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar had tested positive.

The Kolhli-led RCB are currently placed third in the IPL 2021 points-table with five wins from seven go games so far.

Kohli and his men will resume their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on September 20.

Recently, the RCB HAD announced that all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, starting September 19 in the UAE.

Sundar had picked a finger injury in England and named Bengal cricketer Akash Deep as the replacement for the all-rounder.

RCB have also signed Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga as replacement for Australia’s Adam Zampa. Hasaranga had bagged a total of seven wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the final T20I, in the recently held T20I series against India.

RCB also roped in Dushmantha Chameera for Daniel Sams, left-arm quick George Garton for Kane Richardson and Tim David for New Zealand’s Finn Allen.

Earlier, the IPL 2021 season was postponed indefinately in May, this year due to the emergence of multiple Covid-19 positive cases in the tournament’s bio-bubble during the second leg.

Later, the BCCI had announced that the remaining matches of the 14th season of the tournament be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the months of September-October.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced to complete the remaining matches of VIVO Indian Premier League 2021 season in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) considering the monsoon season in India in the months of September-October this year,” said a statement from the Indian Cricket Board in May last.

“The decision was taken at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held virtually, where members unanimously agreed to resume IPL,” the statement had added.

News Desk

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