IPL 2020: CSK star Shane Watson gears up for quarantine with ‘beautiful’ Burj Khalifa view, podcasts

We are less than a month away from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and teams have already started arriving in the UAE which will host the 13th edition of the league from September 19 to November 10.

In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, players and team support staff need to follow quite a few protocols as they gear up for the IPL, which was initially postponed due to the pandemic.

All players, domestic and overseas, will have to undergo 5 tests before entering the biosecure bubble. Players and support staff will have to undergo tests every 5th day after entering the biosecure bubble.

After two successful COVID-19 PCR tests, 24 hours apart, players will be allowed to fly to the UAE. Players will be put up in hotels and will be in quarantine during which they will give 3 more Covid-19 tests over 6 days.

Chennai Super Kings star Shane Watson has given us a glimpse of what the players will be going through immediately after they arrive in the UAE. Watson, who is one of the first CSK members to reach the UAE, has been put up in a hotel where he will be in isolation for 7 days.

Watson is planning to work on his blog ‘T20 Stars’ during the time in quarantine and listen to podcasts. The former Australia all-rounder is also looking to enjoy the night view o the city from his Burj Khalifa facing hotel room.

“I am now quarantined for 7 days with a few Covid testing to make sure everything is okay. I am getting used to being in a room with plenty to do. I have got a beautiful view of the Burj Khalifa. I am going to be doing some exercises, walking up and down my room, listening to podcasts, plenty of T20 Stars stuff as well as my preparation, getting ready for the CSK training camp. I am so excited to be here for another IPL campaign,” Watson said in a video message.

My 7-Day room bound quarantine here in Dubai has just started. It’s so cool to be here to get into the preparation for another exciting season of @IPL for @ChennaiIPL. #SafetyFirst #WhistlePodu #superexcited pic.twitter.com/0cdrkv0oCK

— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) August 21, 2020

Watson was not part of the CSK training camp which was held exclusively for local players in Chennai from August 15 to 20.

Another batch of Chennai Super Kings players, including MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, are expected to leave Chennai for the UAE on Friday.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will join the squad in the UAE a week later as he delayed his departure due to personal reasons.