Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had recruited Abu Dhabi based healthcare group VPS for the COVID-19 testing during the 13th season of Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) in UAE.
According to a report in PTI, BCCI will be spending Rs 5,000 on each RT-PCR test which accumulate to Rs 10 crores spending on 20,000 tests during IPL 2020.
“We have engaged with VPS Healthcare, a UAE based company to conduct the tests. While I can’t put a number, it will be more than 20,000 tests which would include everyone. Each test would cost BCCI around 200 AED (Dirham) excluding taxes,” a senior IPL official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“So BCCI will be spending something in the tune of Rs 10 crore for the COVID tests. Around 75 healthcare workers who are part of the company are a part of the IPL testing process,” the official said.
VPS Healthcare has also created a bio-secure bubble of 50 staff in a hotel, though BCCI is not paying any other expenses to the company other than the rate fixed on per tests basis.
“We couldn’t have taken the risk. A separate bio-bubble has been created by the company in a hotel. Around 50 of its health care staff are attached to the testing process while another 25 are engaged in lab and documentation work,” he added.
“The BCCI is however not paying for this bio-bubble and hotel expenses which will be borne by the company,” he informed.
While the eight franchises bore the cost of testing in India, the BCCI is picking up the tab for the RT-PCR tests which have been conducted from August 20 when the teams started landing in the UAE.
A total of 1988 COVID tests were carried out between August 20–28 across all those involved with the tournament, including players and support staff, out of which 13 members of Chennai Super Kings tested, including 2 players.
