On Saturday, it has been announced that the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 is all set to become the first major T20 league to commence amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the recent reports, the tournament is scheduled to commence in Trinidad and Tobago, on August 18. The CPL will have a full season and it will feature overseas and Caribbean players with the standard higher than it has ever been with the likes of Rashid Khan, Chris Lynn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Alex Hales, and Kieron Pollard to be taking part.

Announcing the same, in a statement, the announcers said, “The CPL has worked with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health and the CPL’s own board of medical advisors to create protocols which minimize the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus to the population of Trinidad and in amongst those who will be traveling to Trinidad & Tobago from oversea.”

ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir Terms MS Dhoni Lucky For Getting A Team On Platter

It further added, “All teams and officials will be housed in one hotel and everyone will be subject to strict quarantine protocols for the first two weeks they are in the country. Everyone traveling from overseas will be tested for COVID-19, before departure and then again on arrival in Trinidad.”

Teams and officials will be living in “households” where social distancing will need to be practiced. However, if any member of this cluster display has symptoms of COVID-19 at any time during the tournament all members of that cluster will be going through self-isolation for 14 days. 

Explaining the same, the COO of CPL, Pete Russell said, “We would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs, Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister for Health, Dr. Roshan Parasram, Chief Medical Officer for Trinidad & Tobago, Douglas Camacho, Chairman of Sport TT and their respective ministries and organizations for their support and guidance in making this all possible.”

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli Left Thrilled After Latest Photoshoot Of Anushka Sharma

He further added, “We are really excited to bring high-class cricket to the Caribbean and to the rest of the world. The standard of players involved in this year’s tournament will be higher than ever and we can’t wait to get the tournament underway.”