Addressing a virtual press conference, RCB chairman Sanjeev Churiwala reasoned that given the England and Australia players will have been part of a bio-secure bubble during the limited-overs series in the UK, there is a likelihood that they may be exempted from the one-week quarantine mandated for all participants of the IPL.

A final decision on the matter, however, will be taken post discussion and deliberation with BCCI once the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is chalked out in its entirety and approved by the UAE government.

Churiwala said that Australian players, including their captain and new RCB acquisition Aaron Finch, will land in the UAE on September 17, a day after the last one-dayer in Manchester. It is understood that if the players and staff have not stepped out of the bubble through their emigration from the UK and carry a negative result, obtained from a test conducted not more than 96 hours before their arrival in UAE, there maybe a possibility of relaxation of rules.

According to the draft SOP, every squad member will have to undergo a mandatory seven-day quarantine in the team hotel. In this period, they will be tested three times - on days 1, 3 and 6. Once all three results come back negative, the squad can start training. After that, all squad members will be tested on the fifth day of every week throughout the tournament.

Besides Finch, RCB have Moeen Ali, Kane Richardson and Joshua Phillipe featuring in the limited-overs series in the UK.

Meanwhile, Churiwala also stated that South African players in the team - AB de Villiers, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn - will reach UAE on Saturday (August 22), a day after the Indian players land, while Sri Lankan all-rounder Isuru Udana will join the team on September 1.

Three-week training camp from August 29

RCB's players, most of whom will have reached UAE by August 22, will be subject to seven-days of strict quarantine. Through this time, they'll be subject to three COVID-19 tests. Players that have tested negative will then join a three-week training camp from August 29. All players, members of support staff will be made to sign a legal document mandating 100% adherence to the bio-bubble protocols.

The physical, psychological and emotional well-being of the players will be monitored by the Team Doctor and the sports psychologist.

'Safety is the utmost priority'

Underscoring the importance of safety amidst the raging pandemic, RCB's chairman revealed that stringent guidelines - parallel to the SOP issued by BCCI - have been chalked out by the franchise. An entire wing of an upmarket hotel in Dubai will be used by RCB. The bio-secure wing will have access to gyms, restaurants and conference rooms for team meetings.

All hotel staff and service team members tending to the team will remain indoors, as part of the bio-secure bubble while all cricketing and training equipment will be taken from India. Churiwala stated that RCB will, however, deputise one person outside the bubble as a singular point of contact with the outside world.

The news is transferred from Topcrickets.