- Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia on Friday advocated daily testing of players during the IPL and predicted that the upcoming edition in the UAE will be the most watched in the tournament’s history. Wadia’s comments came after IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed that the T20 league will be held from September 19 to November 8. All teams are now awaiting the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from the BCCI, which will finalise the logistics in the IPL Governing Council meet next week.
“Strict safety protocols have to be put in place both for off-field and on-field activities to make the IPL safe and successful. They should not be compromised at all,” Wadia told PTI.
“I would want as much testing as possible and preferably daily. If I was a cricketer, I would be very happy in getting myself tested everyday. There is no harm in it,” he added.
It is pretty obvious that the IPL will not be able to prepare and maintain a bio-secure environment, the way the England Cricket Board has organised for the English and West-Indian team for the ongoing test series with the two teams staying on sight. IPL on the other hand, is a logistical nightmare. With 8 teams as a part of the competition, maintaining a bio-secure environment is impossible. The organisers wouldn’t even require that in the UAE, where a negative COVID-19 test report is all that is needed.
“Bio-secure is something that should be very seriously considered but don’t know if it can be implemented in an eight-team tournament. We are waiting for the SOPs from the BCCI.
“UAE also has a very high testing rate (472,575 per million) and they have all the technology at their disposal. The BCCI will need the help of local government in ensuring adequate testing is done,” Wadia said.
“From the logistics perspective, we have done IPL in the UAE before. But this time you have to add a lot more protocols. I am sure the BCCI will do the needful. There is also enough knowledge to be gained form football leagues like the EPL on how they are going about their job in COVID times.”
Finding sponsors in the current financially fickle environment can be an issue for teams but Wadia feels the benefits to be associated with the IPL this year are too good to be missed out on.
“I would be surprised if this IPL is not the most watched ever. I am talking worldwide and not only India. Therefore, the benefit to sponsors would be tremendous and I am sure they will see it that way.
“The benefit to them will be more than previous editions considering more people will tune in to watch fresh live sport.”
While continuing to credit BCCI for having managed to fit in the IPL in a year full of uncertainties, Wadia added that he hopes franchises would be compensated for gate money. Due to Covid-19 regulations, the cricket is expected to be played behind closed doors, thereby implying no revenue from spectators. The Kings XI Punjab Owner added that should it be played without spectators, it would be good to be monetarily compensated by the BCCI for the shortfall.