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XtraTime Web Desk: All the hotels in which the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams will stay in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are being converted into Bio-Bubble for the upcoming IPL 2020. It is learnt all the eight teams will be staying in three hotels in Dubai. They are Marriott Marquis, Ritz Carlton and Sofitel-The Palm. It is not yet confirmed though which teams will stay in which hotel. But according to sources in Dubai, reigning champions Mumbai Indians will stay at the Sofitel-The Palm. Former champions Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will be staying at Ritz Carlton. Both Ritz Carlton and Marriott Marquis are being owned by the Marriott Group are adjacent to each other.

It is learnt the teams will start entering Dubai from the second week of August. They are likely to have preparatory camps in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Considering the hot weather during the day time, arrangements are being made for training in the evening under floodlights at the ICC Dubai academy.

All the cricketers participating in the upcoming 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) are likely to undergo mandatory a 4 step COVID-19 tests. This will also apply to all the support staffs, management, broadcasters and stakeholders. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to create a Bio-Bubble similar to what we witnessed during the recently concluded test series between England and West Indies. The England & Wales Cricket Board had created a Bio-Bubble in both venues – Southampton and Manchester.

The players and support staffs will have to follow the strict guidelines as they enter the Bio-Bubble. The matter will come up for discussion during the IPL Governing Council meeting on Sunday.