IPL 2021: BCCI allows Bubble to Bubble transfer for players

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has allowed the transfer of players from one team bio-bubble to another team bio-bubble for the upcoming Indian Premier League. According to reports, this decision has been taken considering the ongoing India vs England series from where players can join their respective franchise teams after the end of the last leg, the three ODIs in Pune. 

The only condition of Bubble to Bubble transfer is that players should either travel by Team bus of charted flights. "Players coming directly from the Bubble created for the ‘India vs. England’ series, may be permitted to join the franchise squad without serving the mandatory quarantine period, provided they satisfy the criteria of moving directly to the franchise team hotel either in the team bus or on a chartered flight (sic)," Cricbuzz reported. 

"If chartered flights are used then all protocols for crew members must be followed. If the travel arrangements are to the satisfaction of the BCCI Chief Medical Officer then such players will directly enter the franchise team Bubble without the need to serve a quarantine period or undergo an RT-PCR test," the note accessed by the cricket website mentioned. 

The cricket governing board in India has planned a  total of 12 Bio-Bubbles. Out of those 12, eight Bubbles will be for eight different franchise teams and support staff, while two of the Bubbles will be meant exclusively for match officials and match management teams while the last two Bubbles will be created for broadcast commentators and crew.

There would be no bubbles for BCCI staff or the owners, however, if any owner wants to be part of the Bubble, they must quarantine in their hotel room for seven days before entering it.

This Bubble transfer news has also given hopes for a franchise who have South African players in their squad to get them in playing xi as soon as possible if they too are allowed to switch bubble.  

The first two legs of the tournament will take place in Mumbai and Chennai and while in Mumbai all passengers arriving from the UK, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil and Europe have to undergo a mandatory institutional quarantine for seven days at their own cost, an entry in Chennai will require mandatory submission of an E-Pass by all outsiders irrespective country or state. The E-Pass is provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu.