KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia wants daily COVID testing in IPL 2020

Ness Wadia, one of the co-owners of the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) wants daily COVID testing of players during the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The T20 league is set to get underway on Saturday, September 19 with the final to take place on Sunday, November 8. The tournament has, reportedly, been moved out of India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The eight franchises would be leaving base by August 20 for the 51-day tournament. Cricket boards from around the world have also started giving No Objection Certificates (NOC) to players, who would be taking part in the championship. It goes without saying that there would be strict protocols in place, bearing mind how contagious the deadly coronavirus has been.

Strict safety protocols have to be put in place: Ness Wadia

On the testing, Wadia said that he wouldn’t mind undergoing tests daily if he was a cricketer. “I would want as much testing as possible and preferably daily,” Wadia was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo. “If I was a cricketer, I would be very happy in getting myself tested every day. There is no harm in it,” he stated.

At the present point in time, for travelling to the UAE, a passenger needs to get themselves tested before the flight and another test after landing. For those, who has landed in the country without testing, a quarantine period is mandatory.

“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.”

“Bio-security 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 the local government in ensuring adequate testing is done,” he added.

The UAE played hosts to the IPL in 2014 when 20 matches took place there before the tournament made its return to India. If the event doesn’t end up taking place, then the BCCI stands to lose around INR 4,000 crores.