We will see if Chennai Super Kings can start as per schedule: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has reacted on the news of coronavirus hitting the Chennai Super Kings camp ahead of IPL 2020. 13 members of CSK have tested positive for Covid-19, including fast bowler Deepak Chahar and batsman Rituraj Gaikwad.

Everybody in the CSK camp had passed the previous tests conducted in India and after their arrival in Dubai. It was only in the third test that 13 members tested positive.

Notably, Chennai Super Kings was the only franchise which organised a training camp in India before leaving for the United Arab Emirates earlier this month.

The players, support staff and franchise officials completed their mandatory 7-day quarantine in their hotel rooms in Dubai but even then some members contracted the novel virus.

Reacting to the news, Ganguly said that he hopes the three-time champions can begin their outdoor training on time after being ordered to self-isolate for 7 more days.

“I cannot comment on the situation of CSK. We will see if they can start as per schedule. I hope the IPL will be conducted well. We have a long schedule for the tournament and I sincerely hope everything will go on just fine,” Ganguly told the Times of India.

All other teams have started to practice outdoors while staying inside the bio-secure bubble. But CSK can only start their training from September 5 after being hit by coronavirus in their camp.

Trouble mounted for CSK on Saturday and the MS Dhoni-led team suffered another big jolt when Suresh Raina decided to return home due to personal reasons. The CSK vice-captain and second-highest run-scorer in the IPL will miss the entire 2020 season.

Later it was revealed that Raina’s relatives in Punjab’s Pathankot were attacked by robbers in the midnight of August 19. Four of the relatives got injured, while one died in the incident.