Strict safety measures remain in place as the world's biggest cricket league prepares to swing into action in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
International sports stars are being closely monitored in bio-secure bubbles and intensive protocols are being followed ahead of the first ball being bowled in an Indian Premier League (IPL) set to be played out amid a pandemic.
While coaches and players will leave no stone unturned to secure victory on the field, organisers have adopted the same single-minded mentality to ensure the lucrative spectacle is hosted safely and successfully.
Hotel rooms and stadiums where PCR swab tests are being conducted have been fitted with hospital-grade air filters to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections.
Medics in ambulances at the stadium will check for high temperature and other coronavirus symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath before allowing cricket crew and workers inside.
The Twenty20 games kick off between Mumbai Indians, the defending IPL champions, and Chennai Super Kings on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
How are IPL teams being kept safe?
"We are setting up medical rooms manned by a doctor and nurses at the stadium and there will be ambulance services for all emergencies," Dr Pankaj Chawla, operations director of Burjeel Medical City told The National.
“Anyone entering the stadium will be screened for fever or any Covid-19 symptoms. The checks start from 9am in the morning.
“Apart from the teams, anyone involved in the IPL from crews who are setting up the billboards to the commentators, everyone is getting tested on a very regular basis.”
In Abu Dhabi, the cricketers, officials and broadcast crew are restricted to the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont hotels.
Separate groups of VPS Healthcare nurses conduct PCR swab tests on players from the Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders teams and support staff in Abu Dhabi.
The medics also test officials from the Emirates Cricket Board and Board of Control for Cricket in India, broadcast crew and workers readying the stadium for the 53-day tournament.
A similar protocol is being followed for all eight teams living in hotels across the Emirates and crew in cricket grounds in Dubai and Sharjah.
What happens if Covid-19 cases are detected?
Contingency measures are in place with a triage system set up if Covid-19 symptoms are detected.
“Anyone with a fever or cough will be screened out in the beginning and will move out so chances of spread will be absolute minimal or near zero,” Dr Chawla said.
“If any person is found positive we will immediately repeat his test to confirm. If the second test is positive, he will be moved out to an identified isolation hospital or hotel based on whether he is symptomatic or asymptomatic as per Department of Health protocols.”
Regular medical tests will then be conducted with swab tests every third day until the isolated patient has two consecutive negative tests.
IPL makes UAE return in unique times
The much-anticipated event will be held in the Emirates for the first time since 2014 after a surge in coronavirus cases forced it to be moved from India.
Each cricketer takes a PCR test every five days.
The rigorous screening is critical to quickly identify positive cases and catch the virus before it spreads to ensure the games continue until the last match is played on November 10.
Medical teams from VPS Healthcare will conduct more than 20,000 PCR swab tests in a massive operation.
“We have created separate swabbing rooms in each bubble and only the nurses will be in close contact with team members,” Dr Chawla said.
“We sanitise the room and clean up any touch point areas before starting the swabbing. Each swab room in the hotels and stadium has HEPA filters that have been placed through which air will be filtered continuously and the air gets disinfected through ultra violet rays.”
This was in reference to air recycled through High Efficiency Particulate Air filters typically being used in hospitals and on airplanes to contain contamination in case an infection is detected during swab testing.
Dr Chawla said every cricketer was given a detailed schedule of the date and time for the tests.
Thousands of swab tests already conducted
Swabs were taken between 8am to 5pm and results released from 7pm until midnight.
More than 3,000 PCR tests have been conducted in Abu Dhabi alone since the teams arrived last month.
IPL organisers have cautioned teams that cricketers or owners would be penalised if the bio-secure bubble is breached.
In case of an accidental breach, the player will be placed in isolation for a week and required two negative tests to re-enter the bubble.
So far, two players from Chennai Super Kings have tested positive.
Indian fast bowler Deepak Chahar returned to the team after recovering and is undergoing fitness tests.
“From what I have observed, everybody is sensitised. They feel they are responsible for ensuring the IPL goes smoothly and without any hiccups. It is their social responsibility too," Dr Chawla said.
“Regular testing makes every team member and those taking care of them ensure they keep safe.”
The teams have posted videos on Twitter and YouTube showing the cricketers training in their hotel rooms and the cricket grounds.
Aditya Tare, the Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper, in a video said he was grateful the tournament was being held in the Emirates.
He spoke of how spending time with family eased the anxiety during the early days of strict lockdown in India.
“There was a bit of fear because of the uncertainty. What’s going to happen, how deadly the virus is and what the effect is going to be,” he said.
“At the end of the day, you are getting to play the sport that you love and you have got to respect this country UAE for allowing our league to be happening here in this current world scenario.
“We have to consider ourselves fortunate and be grateful for this opportunity.”
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Duminy's Test career in numbers
Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
Last five meetings
2013: South Korea 0-2 Brazil
2002: South Korea 2-3 Brazil
1999: South Korea 1-0 Brazil
1997: South Korea 1-2 Brazil
1995: South Korea 0-1 Brazil
Note: All friendlies
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
More coverage from the Future Forum
If you go...
Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.
Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
What is an ETF?
An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.
The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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