Some ICC Guidelines On Resumption Of Cricket Impractical, Need To Be Reviewed: Former International Cricketers

With an aim to revamp the way the sport needs to be played factoring the changing dimensions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on safety and health of the cricketers, the International Cricket Council met last week and drafted a host of “back to cricket” guidelines

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Former international cricketers Aakash Chopra, Irfan Pathan and Monty Panesar are of the opinion that some of the ICC guidelines recommended by the International Cricket Council on resumption of cricket does not seem to be too practical and will could need a second look or maybe a review when the cricketing world is closer to getting back to playing action on the green turf. With an aim to revamp the way the sport needs to be played factoring the changing dimensions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on safety and health of the cricketers, the International Cricket Council met last week and drafted a host of “back to cricket” guidelines including ban on saliva to shine the ball, 14-day pre-match isolation training camps to ensure the teams are free from COVID-19. The world body issued training as well as playing guidelines envisaging the fact that the sport will drastically change the way the game is played. Some of the major 'Back To Cricket' Guidelines are regular hand sanitising when in contact with the ball, no loo or shower breaks while training, minimising time spent in the changing room before and after a game, no use of saliva on ball and no handing over of personal items (cap, sunglasses, towels) to fellow teammates or the on-field umpires. “Social distancing is very doable in individual sport but very tough in a team sport like cricket and football. If you need a slip during the game, would you not employ it? “If the team is going through a 14-day quarantine and is being tested for COVID-19, I am fine with that process. Now, after that, if we have more guidelines for the players during the game, then you are making things complicated. Then there is no point of a quarantine period,” former India pacer Pathan told PTI. Safety cannot be compromised but regularly sanitising hands during the game will be too much to ask from the players. “Safety is paramount but we should not make the game complicated. If a bowler or fielder has to sanitise hands every time he touches the ball, then it would be very difficult. “You can shorten the process of giving the ball to the bowler. Instead of the usual chain (wicket-keeper to cover fielder to bowler), the keeper can straight away give the ball to the bowler but even then the bowler will have to sanitise hands six times in an over,” said Pathan seeking more clarity on the guidelines.