From change of ball after a six into stands to no sharing of bottles, all you need to know about new rules for IPL 2021

Once bitten, twice shy is a very prominent English proverb and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now leaving no stone unturned to get the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) get underway and get it completed after the tournament was suspended halfway due to the sudden rise in the COVID-19 cases.

Thus, BCCI has issued a 46-page health advisory for the remaining matches of the IPL to be held in the UAE from September 19 to October 15. One of the most prominent changes is that a ball, if it goes into the stands will be changed, and this will happen every single time whenever the ball goes to the stands after a batsman hits a six. 

According to a report in Inside Sport, the board has also given strict guidelines to the franchises not allowing players to share any food item, refreshment, beverage water bottle during the drink breaks.

The report further elaborating on the guidelines mentioned that the BCCI has asked the franchises to issue bottles to the players with their names and the substitute players will require to keep the bottler holders and the players will only use the bottles that have their names written on them. The prohibition also extends to towels or any type of clothing.

The advisory also said that the players can use the golf course in the hotel premises given that the team has booked the gold course but they will not be able to use any other services like bars, restaurants, or cafes in the golf club.

The BCCI has also maintained a strict route against the breach of the bio-bubbles by ant pf the players or their family members. The saliva ban imposed by the ICC in the post-COVID era continues. Apart from these, there are several other protocols regarding quarantines, RT-PCR tests, and bio-bubbles. A total of 14 bubbles will be created, eight for the teams, three for the umpires and the organising team, three for the broadcasting team and commentators.

Here are all the protocols mentioned in the advisory:

• All franchise team members must undergo a COVID-19 RT-PCR test, 72 hours before their scheduled flight
• All individuals must quarantine themselves and avoid contact with others after the RT-PCR test
• All members whose RT-PCR test result is negative may travel to the franchise’s city of choice
• For passengers arriving from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, it is mandatory that the COVID-19 PCR report includes a QR code linked to the original report for the verification process
• In unavoidable circumstances franchise team members and their families can leave the bubble
• However, for unscheduled visits, prior permission must be sought from the BCCI Chief Medical Officer before leaving the Bubble
• Re-entry to the Bubble is only permitted after completing 6 full days quarantine
• For re-entry 3 results of the RT-PCR tests for samples collected on day 2,4 and 6 should be negative
• Green corridors will be created to avoid close contact with any individuals who are outside their Bio-Secure Bubbles if in exceptional circumstances members within a bubble are required to visit a hospital
• Contact tracing bands to be done away with. Instead, the bio-bubble integrity officers will be responsible for tracking each Covid positive contact.
• BCCI is trying every possible thing to avoid any bio-bubble breach this team as IPL 2021 was suspended in the month of May as many players were tested positive due to bubble breach.

The tournament begins on September 19 with the EL Clasico between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.