UK PM Johnson Calls Cricket Balls "A Natural Vector Of Disease", Rules Out Recreational Cricket's Resumption In Immediate Future

"The problem with cricket as everybody understands (is) that the ball is a natural vector of disease, potentially at any rate. We’ve been round it many times with our scientific friends," UK PM Johnson said.

British Prime Minister - Photo/PTI

In a significant development which can be seen as a massive blow to resumption of cricket, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out restart of amateur cricket in the nation as he believes that the sport carries high risk of infection due to the cricket ball and subsequent contact with hands even though there is a saliva ban by the ICC. Johnson's comments came in response to a question from Member of Parliament Greg Clarke in the House of Commons, according to ESPNcricinfo. Clark, the Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, asked the PM to clarify whether "the ban on cricket has come to an end". Johnson responded: "The problem with cricket as everybody understands [is] that the ball is a natural vector of disease, potentially at any rate. We've been round it many times with our scientific friends. The British Prime Minister's remarks come ahead of the 3-match Test series between England and West Indies, scheduled to commence with the first Test beginning from July 8 at the Southampton. England is the first country that invited West Indies for a Test series. West Indies team is already in the UK training. That series is followed by Pakistan series which has now been jeopardized after 10 members of the 29 member team tested positive on the eve of their departure to England. This meanwhile will not have any bearing on international series that is being played in bio secure environment but severely hampers all other forms of league cricket. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan and other English cricketers have advocated hand sanitizer for players but requested the government to lift the imposition on resuming club cricket competition.