BCCI plans camp in Dubai for contracted Indian cricketers: Reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating the possibility of a pre-season camp for its contracted players ahead of the much-awaited Indian Premier League, several media houses have reported. In all likelihood, Dubai will host the camp in case the COVID-19 situation does not improve in Mumbai.

The picture is expected to get clearer after the Apex Council meeting on July 17. The board is yet to finalize its Standard Operating Procedures with regards to resuming cricketing activities.

It is also learnt that the team management has brought it to the BCCI’s notice that players will need at a six-week training camp before featuring in any series. With no international commitments before the Australia tour towards the end of the year, the board is looking at the October-November window for conducting the IPL. 

While the franchises conduct their own camps before the league, the board is planning a mini-camp to ascertain the fitness level of the cricketers. However, one of the major concerns for the board is the lack of time. In general IPL teams want their players to report at least three weeks in advance, effectively meaning that the BCCI will have to host the camp by the first week of September. 

With COVID-19 situation not seeming to relent anytime soon, the board is forced to explore the possibility of flying its players to the International Cricket Council Academy in Dubai for the camp. The move will make it easier for the players to join their respective franchisees for the pre-season camp.

According to various reports, the UAE is likely to host the IPL unless the situation in Mumbai improves dramatically over the course of next few weeks.