BCCI likely to omit bio-bubbles for India?s home series against South Africa: Reports

BCCI likely to omit bio-bubbles for India?s home series against South Africa: Reports: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to exclude the requirement of a controlled environment in the upcoming five matches T20I series between India and South Africa. The decision to omit bio-bubble is taken keeping in mind the player?s mental well-being.

Ever since the unprecedented rise in the COVID cases was seen, the bio-bubbles became part of the lives of every sportsperson. The tournaments and international competitions began to continue with proper bio-bubble safety following the havoc wreaked by the dreaded virus.

However, with the situation getting better, countries are looking on easing the curbs for everyone, including the sportsperson. 

The fifteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is being played following a proper bio-bubble protocol. The 2-month long competition will end on 29th May and officials don?t want players to straightaway jump from one strict environment to another.?

The five matches T20I series between India and South Africa will be played across five different venues in India - Delhi, Cuttack, Vizag, Rajkot, and Bengaluru. The T20I series will kickstart on June 9.

"If all goes well and things remain in control like it is right now, there will be no bio-bubbles and hard quarantine during the home series against South Africa," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"Then we are going to Ireland and England and there won't be any bio-bubble in those countries too.

The official further added that bio-bubbles in a long run are not sustainable for any sporting event. It would eventually take a toll on players? mental health which is quite dangerous.

?Some players have got periodic breaks but if you look at the bigger picture, living in bio-bubble one series after another and now two months of IPL is simply exhausting for the players,? he said.

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Break for senior players:

All the senior players will be given periodic breaks during the five T20I matches against South Africa. The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and others will get an adequate breather before they board a flight to the UK.

?There are five T20 Internationals between June 9 to 19 in five cities. Obviously, all the players won?t be playing all the games. Some might be given total rest and some might play a few games.

?If these guys aren?t given systemic breaks, it will only harm them. But obviously, the duration of break will be decided by selectors after talking to head coach (Rahul Dravid),? the source added.

South Africa tour of India 2022- Schedule:

First T20I, Delhi ? June 9

Second T20I, Cuttack ? June 12

Third T20I, Visakhapatnam ? June 14

Fourth T20I, Rajkot ? June 17

Fifth T20I, Bangaluru ? June 19

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