The Chennai Super Kings are set to start their training finally for the 2020 IPL in the UAE from September 4. The training date is scheduled subject to the squad clearing two additional Covid-19 tests put in place by the IPL after 13 members of their contingent tested positive last week, which included two Indian players. All members in their camp tested negative in the first of two additional tests that was conducted on Monday and the results came out on Tuesday morning; the second test is on September 3.

Those who had tested positive last week are put up in a separate hotel and are not going to be part of these fresh tests. Those 13 personnel will undergo two fresh tests after their mandatory two-week quarantine.

The Super Kings are the only team yet to start training after being forced to extend their quarantine period. They landed in Dubai on August 21 and were expected to start their training by August 28 initially.

"We will start [training] by September 4. We have another test on September 3," Kasi Viswanathan, the Super Kings CEO told ESPNcricinfo. Viswanatahan said since the Super Kings were the only team to have positive test results, the IPL had "increased" the number of tests to five, which is two more than the number carried out by the other seven franchises.

As per the IPL's Covid-19 testing protocols, all participants in the tournament have to carry out three tests upon landing in the UAE: on days one (landing), three and six. Once all the three tests come negative can the teams start training.

Viswanathan also said that the two players who tested positive last week are expected to start training once they have cleared the mandatory testing process laid out by the IPL. He also said that the Super Kings would be ready to play the tournament opener on September 19, if required.

Harbhajan to join in first week of September

Harbhajan Singh, who missed the preparatory camp in Chennai last month due to personal reasons, is expected to arrive in Dubai in "first week of September," Viswanathan said. He was scheduled to join the Super Kings camp on Tuesday, but is understood to be still with his family in India.