ICC releases guidelines for cricket’s resumption
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued comprehensive guidelines directed towards the resumption of cricket around the world while maintaining the highest safety protocols amid coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, ICC recommended appointing Chief Medical Officers and 14-day pre-match isolation training camps in its radical guidelines for the resumption of international cricket after the novel coronavirus hiatus.
“Consider appointing a Chief Medical Officer and/or Biosafety Official who will be responsible for implementing government regulations and the biosafety plan to resume training and competition,” the ICC stated in one of the pointers.
“Consider the need for a pre-match isolation training camp with health, temperature checks, and CV-19 testing, e.g. at least 14 days prior to travel to ensure the team is CV-19 free,” it added.
“Players and umpires should maintain social distancing on the cricket field and that includes no handing over of player items (cap, towels, sunglasses, jumpers) to the umpire or teammates,” the ICC said in a document.
“Consider adopting a process that will assist the bowler in managing his/her items. Umpires may also be encouraged to use gloves when handling the ball.”
The sport’s governing body also stated that teams would have to keep a distance according to the guidelines side by their respective government. The players have been asked to arrive for training dressed in their gear and use changing rooms sparingly.
Furthermore, it mentioned that body contract celebrations and sharing of water bottles and drinks should be discouraged as they pose a risk.
The ICC believes the cricket ball can be a carrier of the virus and the players have been instructed to not touch their eyes, nose and mouth after making contact with the ball.
It went on to state that “should a team member or opponent develop any COVID-19 symptoms or be found to develop an infection, participants will require isolation and testing as they are most likely to have been in close contact.”
Owing to the global pandemic all cricket activities are shut since it struck the world.
Yet the T20 World Cup in Australia is under threat due to the deadly virus. PTI
