Restrata has bagged the contract for the setting up of a “bio-secure environment” for franchises including players, match officials, and team officials for the 13th edition of the IPL which will be played in the UAE from September 19 to November 10, 2020.
The aim of a bio-bubble is to keep cricket teams relatively isolated from the outside world so as to greatly minimize the risk of coronavirus infection.
According to sources, Restrata’s bid was considerably lower than Tata’s but their experience of conducting a cricket series helped them get the IPL contract. Restrata is the same company that has been providing the bio-security cover for cricket series hosted by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Be it, recently concluded the West Indies tour of England or ongoing Pakistan vs England series, Restrata is responsible for the Bio-Security cover.
Notably, BCCI will be ensuring bio-secure bubbles in the UAE in 4 broadly categorized environments. The board has identified risk mitigation procedures for bio-secure bubbles and it will be followed before entry while being in the bubble and while exiting the bubble.
Inside the Bio-Secure Environment, there would be specific risk mitigation processes to screen entry, minimize the spread of infection and strategies to manage COVID-19 cases within the Bio-Secure environments.
Players and support staff who arrive in the UAE will be giving 3 Tests — Day 1, Day 3 and Day 6. After all three successful tests, players will be allowed to enter the biosecure bubble. Players and support staff will not be allowed to leave the bubble once entered throughout the duration of IPL 2020.
Within the above-mentioned domains, different zones will be created to separate the franchise team members, match officials, cricket operations team, ground staff, broadcast teams, hotel staff and security personnel. Individuals will remain in their allotted zones at all times.
“Breach of any Bio-Secure Environment protocols by players and team support staff will be punishable under the IPL Code of Conduct Rules,” the BCCI has said.
