New Delhi: Bio-bubbles are unlikely to be used in the next five-match T20 series against South Africa, as the BCCI is concerned about cricketers’ mental health. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, almost all cricket series (home and away) were played in a rigorous bio-secure setting.
The T20 series will be played across five venues — Delhi, Cuttack, Vizag, Rajkot, Bengaluru — between June 9 and 19.
IPL is also being conducted in a bio-bubble for the protection of the players and officials, will end on May 29, and the BCCI does not want its players to be transferred to another confined stay so soon after the league ends.
“If all goes well and things remain in control like it is right now, there will be no bio-bubbles and hard quarantine during the home series against South Africa,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“Then we are going to Ireland and England and there won’t be any bio-bubble in those countries too.”
The board is aware that bubble life is not sustainable for long period as staying confined to restricted areas can severely affect the players’ mental health.
“Some players have got periodic breaks but if you look at the bigger picture, living in bio-bubble one series after another and now two months of IPL is simply exhausting for the players,” he said.
