HBL PSL 7: Players to live under strict bio-bubble protocols

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The cricketers will have to live under strict bio-bubble protocols during the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season seven.

The last two editions were postponed midway due to Covid-19 but now Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants no obstructions during the tournament, therefore, a strict bio-bubble plan has been designed.

According to details, there will be one more 'Bubble' of each team within the bio-bubble where others cannot enter. Apart from the stadium, players of different teams will not be allowed to meet. 

Liaison Officer will make sure that individuals from other teams won't meet each other. A complete hotel has been booked in Karachi while one wing of the hotel has been dedicated for PSL in Lahore. Irrelevant people won't be allowed to enter the wing.

There will be separate lifts, dining areas for the teams in the hotel. The hotel's staff will also be part of the bubble.

According to sources, it was impossible to book a complete hotel in Lahore, therefore, one wing has been booked.

Players and officials will start to arrive in Karachi on January 20. Practice will start after hard three-day room isolation.

If anyone tests positive for Covid-19, the complete floor of the hotel will be tested. Bio-bubble Integrity Manager from Army Medical Core will monitor the process.

On the other hand, PCB has also not allowed players to accompany family members. Players are extremely unhappy and some have also protested in this regard.

However, PCB believes that the tournament is important for cricket fans as they are eagerly waiting for the PSL 7 to start.

Teams will undergo rapid-antigen tests every day while PCR tests will be conducted after two to three days.

Players will not be allowed to order the food from the outside the premises of hotel as they will get high-quality food three times a day. In the previous seasons, only breakfast was from PCB while players used to eat other meals from the daily allowance.

PCB and franchises can't face yet another postponement midway through the tournament like the previous two editions. They will incur damages as the Pakistan men's cricket team have a packed schedule and it won't be possible to finish the league during any other window this year.

The tournament will continue until two teams don't become the victim of Covid-19. The tournament will be stopped for seven days if something related to the virus happens. Two matches will be held each day after the restart.

If teams have many players affected due to Covid-19, players from the reserve pool will be picked.