Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are planning to set up early camps in Dubai ahead of the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to make a decision regarding the schedule for resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in UAE, but some of the franchises have already shown intention to set up training camps in Dubai as early as around August 20.
As per a report on Cricbuzz, the two franchises – Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have informed BCCI about their plans to reach Dubai by August 20 followed by a period of quarantine as prescribed by the UAE government and the BCCI health advisories before setting up their practice camps for the second phase of IPL. Both the franchises have laid aside their plans to hold a camp in India keeping the monsoon season and COVID-19 pandemic in mind.
We want to be there by August 15, latest by 20th and we have informed the BCCI that we want to be there by then. We are hoping to get the required permissions, without which the logistical plans will be difficult to execute.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told Cricbuzz.
Both Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings are currently the top two teams in the IPL 2021 points table. DC are on top of the pile with 12 points in 8 matches, closely followed by CSK who have gained 10 points with a match in hand.
There are also unconfirmed reports that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who are currently third on the table behind CSK with 10 points in 7 matches, have also shown their interest to make an early move to the UAE to hold camps ahead of the resumption.
Although there has been no official announcement from the BCCI about the resumption dates as of now, it is expected that the second leg of IPL 2021 will start on September 19 and will continue till October 15.
It would be a big plus for these three franchises to have almost one month’s time to get accustomed to the UAE conditions and it won’t come as a surprise if the remaining five franchises decide to follow suit.