What will happen if a player violates bio-bubble in IPL?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer KM Asif, on Thursday, hogged headlines for allegedly breaching the bio-secure bubble protocols. It was reported that he misplaced his hotel room key and went to the reception to get a replacement.

Dousing the controversy, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan eventually cleared out that Asif had gone to a separate area in the lobby which caters to the players, where the staff are being tested regularly for COVID-19.

Considering the condition under which the on-going IPL 2020 is being played, a player violating the bio-secure bubble rules might prove costly to the organizers. Hence, a notification has been sent to all the eight participating franchises by the BCCI, stating that a player will have to undergo a six-day quarantine for an ‘unauthorised departure’ from the bubble.

All players and support staff are currently tested on every fifth day

It will be a one-match suspension if it is a second offence and a third violation will lead to his removal from the tournament and no replacement will further be provided.

All players and support staff are currently being tested every fifth day of the tournament in the UAE. To keep the players confined to the bubble, they could be fined as much 3000 AED (approx 60,000 INR) for not completing their daily health passport, not wearing GPS tracker and missing a scheduled COVID-19 test. Moreover, the same rules will be applicable to the players’ family members as well as all team officials.

If an IPL franchise allows an individual into the bubble to interact with players or support staff, it will have to pay a hefty fine of INR 1 crore at the first offence. The team’s 1 point will be deducted at the second offence and 2 points, equivalent to a win, will be conducted for the third violation of the rule.

The possibility of a team being unable to field a Playing XI is highly unlikely. However, if it happens, the BCCI will try to reschedule. If the rescheduling is also not possible, the game would be deemed lost. Since 13 members of the CSK squad, including two players, failed their COVID-19 tests upon their arrival, no further cases have been reported yet.