IPL 2020: CSK squad, barring 2 players, likely to train from Friday after 2nd additional Covid-19 test

Chennai Super Kings members, barring the 13 who were tested Covid-19 positive last week, underwent the 2nd additional test for the novel coronavirus on Thursday. All the said batch of members returned negative results in Tuesday’s test.

CSK are likely to hit the nets from Friday in Dubai, subject to clearance of the 2nd round of testing. The results are expected to come late on Thursday or on Friday morning, according to the PTI news agency.

Chennai Super Kings are the only team who have not begun training in the UAE. 13 of their members, including 2 India players tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week. All the 13 members are in isolation and will undergo tests after the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. All the members who tested positive for Covid-19 are stable.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had earlier said that the 3-time champions will be ready to play the opening match of the season, if required. IPL 2020 will be held in the UAE from September 19 to November 10.

Earlier on Thursday, BCCI sources told India Today that the board is confident of starting the much-anticipated season with the marquee clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. CSK and MI were scheduled to play the opener before the T20 tournament was postponed due to the pandemic.

BCCI is also set to announce the fixtures for the tournament on Saturday.

CSK have had an unfortunate start to their stint in the UAE. Apart from the Covid-19 positive cases, vice-captain Suresh Raina also pulled out from IPL 2020, citing ‘personal reasons’.

Suresh Raina rubbished rumours of a rift in the camp and said he had to head back to India for personal reasons. Raina conceded that he was a bit concerned about the Covid-19 cases but did not rule out the chances of a comeback.

CSK boss N Srinivasan, when asked about the possibility of Raina returning to the UAE, said he doesn’t interfere in team management.

“I have treated him like one (son). The reason for CSK’s success in IPL over the years is because of the fact that the franchise never poked its nose into cricketing matters. India Cements has been running cricket since ’60s. I will always remain like that,” N Srinivasan told the Press Trust of India.

“Look, please understand, that that’s not my domain (whether Raina will come back or not) at all. We own a team, we own the franchise but we do not own players. Team is ours but the players are not. I don’t own the players.”