Forced out of India due to the rising COVID-19 case count in the country, the IPL will allow unlimited COVID-19 replacements considering the delicate health safety situation across the globe.
India's white ball squad, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will quarantine in Mumbai from June 14 to 28 and undergo six RT-PCR tests on alternate days before flying off to Colombo for the six-match series against Sri Lanka, starting on July 13.
BCCI is planning aggressively to have an IPL in the United Arab Emirates provided the central government green-lights their request for a shift due to the rising cases of COVID-19.
The Indian cricketers on Thursday cleared their first round of RT-PCR COVID-19 tests and will be undergoing two more rounds before they can start training from February 2 for the upcoming Test series against England.
"The granting of the Freedom of the City of London recognises how they have added their voices to the growing global movement to stamp out racism."
The official said that media would be allowed to cover both the Tests from the press box at the stadium.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has indicated that this year's Indian Premier League could be conducted in empty stadiums, insisting that all possible options are being explored to ensure that the suspended event does take place despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to all the affiliated units sent late on Wednesday after the ICC Board meeting, Ganguly seemed confident of an IPL this year despite its current status of being indefinitely suspended because of the raging pandemic, which has claimed more than 8,000 lives in India.
Instead of speculating on the IPL's title sponsorship, Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia says the focus must be on ensuring that not a single COVID-19 case is reported during the event, which according to him, is set to be the "best ever".
While there were speculations that IPL will start from September 26, the BCCI decided to advance it by a week in order to ensure that the Indian team's tour of Australia is not jeopardised.
A source from the IPL revealed that all COVID-19 positive results came during day 1, 3 and 6 of testing after the contingent's landing in Dubai. The IPL is due to begin on September 19.
Chennai Super Kings' star all-rounder Suresh Raina believes the upcoming Indian Premier League, to be played in the UAE amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will pose a lot of new challenges for the players, and clarity of thought would be key for a player to succeed.
Talking specifically about the 13th edition of IPL, which has been put on hold for an indefinite period due to the pandemic, Rijiju said it is the government's prerogative to take a call on conducting any tournament in the country.
Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the five-match T20 series in New Zealand due to a shoulder injury
Australia opener David Warner does not see the captaincy of IPL team SunRisers Hyderabad as a tale of "redemption" for him. Warner, who will be leading SunRisers in this year's IPL, played under the leadership of Kane Williamson last season as the left-hander was making a comeback after his one-year ban for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal during a Test match against South Africa in 2018.
The Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals squad members, who arrived in Dubai last week, will have their first proper training session in months on Wednesday evening, having tested negative for COVID-19 thrice during their mandatory six-day quarantine.
The South African trio of AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris arrived in Dubai in the wee hours of Saturday to join their Royal Challengers Bangalore teammates for the upcoming Indian Premier League.
England and Australia's cricketers, who will be playing in the upcoming Indian Premier League, will be available for selection for Kolkata Knight Riders' opening game on September 23, CEO Venky Mysore said.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Deep Dasgupta refused to call the IPL bubble porous but did admit to having anxieties of his own once cases began to rise in Delhi.
Unruffled by the Supreme Court order prohibiting him from taking charge and braving scathing criticism he has encountered on issues of propriety, a defiant N Srinivasan is certain to be elected unopposed as the president of the BCCI during its AGM in Chennai on Sunday.