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Even as the Indian Premier League is on, there is a big update coming in with regards to the eighth season of the Pro Kabaddi League. If reports are to be believed, the tournament is set to commence on December 22 and will be staged in a bio-bubble in Bengaluru.
Moreover, initial reports suggest that the competition will be held entirely in the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, which happens to be the home of the team Bengaluru Bulls. Although other venues for the competition - the likes of Ahmedabad and Jaipur were considered, eventually organisers closed out on Bengaluru.
If and when the competition gets underway, it will be the first indoor tournament to be held in the country since the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. All the details were claimed in a report carried by Sportstar.
The development implies that the tournament will not deploy the usual caravan format which sees the competition venture across 12 cities over three months. It is due to the health risks associated with travelling and the logistical challenges in creating a bubble across those many cities that has also encouraged the organisers to go for a one-city tournament.
Moreover, all the players will need to be vaccinated if they want to participate and the teams will have to assemble in Bengaluru 14 days before the scheduled start of the tournament.
Even if the tournament is played inside bio-bubbles, the organisers need to be extra careful. Earlier, IPL 2021, which was also being played inside closed doors and in bio-bubbles had to be suspended midway as several players contracted the virus.
Also Read | Pro Kabaddi League 2021: Complete squad list after auction
UAE emerging as a safe sport hosting nation
Later, the tournament was moved out of India due to the uncertain nature of the pandemic and a possible third wave. The T20 cricket tournament is now being played in the United Arab Emirates with the final set to happen on October 15.
Even the Pakistan Super League (PSL) could not be completed due to COVID and had to be completed in the Middle-Eastern country which is emerging as a safe sport-hosting nation and will also see the T20 World Cup on its shores along with Oman.