IPL 2021: BCCI wants franchises to ensure COVID-19 vaccination for all members going to UAE

The second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is set to begin on September 19 in the UAE. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is making sure everything falls under place and does not want the IPL to be suspended again due to COVID-19. And hence, the Indian board has asked all eight franchises to make sure the members are vaccinated before reaching the UAE.

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The vaccination process in India began in April and already a majority of the Indian players have completed the first dose. But due to shortage of vaccine, the second dose is taking longer than what it was scheduled. BCCI though have beforehand only conveyed the message to the franchise to complete the vaccination doses before the IPL resumes in UAE.

Speaking to Times Now, a source in the know of recent developments have confirmed the same. “We have been told all those traveling should have completed taking both doses of vaccination so that there is no problem once teams reach UAE. The quarantine process is most likely going to be seven days before teams can start training,” the source said.

While the New Zealand, England, and West Indies players have confirmed their participation in the UAE leg of IPL, the Australian players are yet to confirm their availability of the remaining 31 matches of the league. Already pacer Pat Cummins has hinted that he may give the remaining matches a miss for his team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The right-arm pacer is expecting his first child with his partner Becky Boston.