CRICKET AND CORONA - THE PRESENT STATE OF PLAY
_____________________________________________The increasing media feeding frenzy surrounding the coronavirus (covid-19) now questions the start of the English cricket season, particularly when the most vulnerable group are those who watch the Championship games.
What hasn't helped is that
ESPNCricinfo report today that a fan who attended the T20 World Cup final at the MCG on Sunday night and was seated on Level 2 in section 42 at the stadium's Northern Stand has tested positive for the virus.
The MCG have released a common sense statement, "The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommends that those who were seated in N42 at Sunday's event should continue to go about their normal routine, with an increased focus on hygiene measures, and should any flu-like symptoms emerge to consult with a medical professional."
Meanwhile around the world, 'The Road Safety World Series T20 tournament', which features five international teams comprising retired greats including Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, has reportedly decided to call off all of its matches in Pune, and play the remainder of its Mumbai matches behind closed doors. The move comes in the wake of the Maharashtra government deciding to cancel all public gatherings, including political meetings and conferences, in order to check the spread of the covid-19.
But it is not just cricket matches which are being effected. Yesterday, according to
ESPNCricinfo, the ICC board met under the coronavirus cloud with further board meetings in doubt due to world travel restrictions. The ICC meetings were scheduled to be held over the March 26th-29th weekend in Dubai and are important ones, given that the ICC management wants to get on with the bidding process it has drafted for global events during the 2023-31 cycle of the 'Future Tours Programme'. However, the BCCI, ECB and several other boards are wary of adding extra ICC events into the next cycle, which would eat into their already overcrowded calendar. Although the events were approved by the ICC Board last October, the BCCI and ECB have since raised strong objections and now want to re-open consultations on the additional events before moving ahead on the bidding process. Also on the agenda are finalising the playing conditions for the ODI League which will start in May 2021.
Back to the matches and on the eve of the ODI series opener between India and South Africa in Dharamsala, visiting captain Quinton de Kock and the returning Bhuvneshwar Kumar touched upon the precautions that the two teams have taken amid fears of covid-19.
CSA's chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra has made the trip with the team, and Kumar said that India's team doctor is also making sure the players are fit and healthy. "A few dos and don'ts he has asked us to do: simple things like hygiene, keep washing your hands and when it comes to going closer to the fans and all those things, you cannot avoid because they love us, support us," Kumar said. "In the meantime, we can try to be and not say no to them but we can choose not to go much closer to going into the public, so we can avoid as much as we can and keep wearing masks and gloves and all those things."
When asked if India will still go ahead and shine the ball with the saliva, Kumar said, "We have thought about this thing, but I can't say right now we will not use saliva because if we don't use saliva then how will we shine the ball. Then we will get hit and you people will say you are not bowling [well]."
As for de Kock, he said that South Africa will still use saliva. "We've been tested on our way here," he said. "Our team doctors and management have made sure all are fit and don't have the virus. So, we will tend to that and keep shining the ball."
The Indian board on Wednesday shared a list of precautions for India, the visitors South Africa and for the general public, who will watch their ODI series. All public toilets at match venues will be "stocked with hand wash liquids and sanitizers" while medical staff and first aiders at the ground will keep a track of those feeling unwell on match day. Apart from that, the Indian team management has been educated on the standard healthcare guidelines including "washing hands with soap for 20 seconds" and "covering mouth while sneezing or coughing."
The management has also been told not to indulge in selfie opportunities, interactions and eating out at restaurants "where hygiene standards are unknown." They have also been told to inform the medical team immediately if they feel unwell. Hotels and airlines that will be used by the players during the series have also been issued a mandate to sanitise their surroundings.
The coronavirus threat has cast doubts over the two-match T20I series between an Asia XI and a World XI in Dhaka, planned as part of the birth centenary celebrations of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation of Bangladesh. Six Indians, including Virat Kohli, are expected to play a part in the tournament, and the BCCI is adopting a wait-and-watch policy on the matter.
BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has been quoted by the New Indian Express as saying: "Players from western countries are also scheduled to participate. With regard to our players' participation, we'll review the situation and take a call accordingly. In my knowledge and as of now, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has not officially intimated the BCCI in this regard. Anyway, whoever is dealing with the issue must be keeping a close watch on the developments."
England's cricket team will also refrain from taking selfies with fans and limit public engagements on their tour of Sri Lanka amid the global outbreak. The team also asked "all supporters joining the tour to maintain good levels of hygiene" as advised by the World Health Organisation and Britain's NHS to avoid possible infection and spreading of illness in an ECB statement released on Wednesday.
"Following the world health agency's advice, and in order to protect the players and, in turn, the integrity and continuation of the Sri Lanka Test tour, the team has put in place several precautions, leading to a number of normal activities being cancelled for the foreseeable future," this statement said.
"England players and staff have been asked to avoid any unnecessary public engagements, and temporarily avoid casual supporter interaction such as selfies or autographs. Whilst we acknowledge that this will be disappointing for some supporters, we stress that this a measure to protect the ongoing wellbeing of the England Test squad and is a decision which has not been taken lightly." England players and staff will continue to replace handshakes with fist bumps in an attempt to minimise contact. Their 'immunity packs' are an integral part to how they must behave.
The PCB has confirmed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Karachi will go ahead as scheduled amid fears of the epidemic.
"In this background, we are satisfied with the feedback the Sindh government has provided and the support it has assured," a PCB statement said. "At the same time, the PCB has promised the Sindh government that it will work very closely with its commercial partner and support wherever it can to assist in the health and safety of the spectators. The PCB now looks forward to a strong turnaround at the Karachi matches as the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 enters a critical phase with five of the six sides fighting for places in the play-offs."
According to reports, there have been 16 cases of the virus in Pakistan so far, with nine new cases identified in Karachi.
On Tuesday, the BCB restricted ticket sales to one per person for the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Dhaka in a bid to "discourage public gathering" following concerns about the spread of the virus. The target is to keep the crowd to one-fifth of the capacity at the 25,000-seater Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Back in Blighty, Surrey and Worcestershire have cancelled their planned pre-season trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, after weighing up the associated risks. Surrey's director of cricket, Alec Stewart, said: "While it's disappointing we won't be able to return to Dubai this year, the health of our players and staff is paramount ... current uncertainties around travel and potential quarantine periods, either abroad or in the UK, mean this trip would simply be too disruptive to our preparations for the 2020 season."
Watch this space. Meanwhile...
And finally...
