Kolkata: After the BCCI announced the 13th edition of IPL in the UAE from September 19, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) & Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a hurry to leave for Dubai in the mid of August. KKR are planning to leave on August 19 and 20, while CSK may leave on August 10. The rest of the teams are eyeing to reach Dubai by the end of this month.
Nevertheless, the team’s departure may get delayed as the BCCI may delay their Standard Operation Procedures (SOP). “CSK have been proactive. They had informed the players to be ready to leave on August 10. But the delay in SOPs from the BCCI could push that back,” The Times of India quoted a source as saying.
According to the report, each team has to arrange and prepare their camps and own a bio-secure bubble before September 19. It has also been circulated among the teams that the final squad will not be more than 25 to 28 people.
“If at all there are directions on the squad strength, then the franchises would prefer to prune their non-playing staff. Some franchises will leave this decision to the coach and team management. Ideally, if there is a cap then it should be on the entourage as a whole,” an unnamed franchise official was quoted as saying by TOI.
By this weekend, an IPL governing council meeting has been engaged where the releasing over the SOPs among others and finalising the schedule will be discussed.
