Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of changes has taken place everywhere including cricket. The fans for quite some time now, won’t be able to watch players celebrating without any hesitation. Matches will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment keeping the player’s safety in mind. International Cricket Council (ICC) has also made a few bio-secure protocols for cricketers that they need to strictly follow.
In a first yesterday, England’s Jofra Archer was dropped from the England squad for the second Test for not following the ICC rules. This move made it very clear that al the players will have to follow every direction and commands from ICC to ensure that they don’t compromise on their safety.
Here are the 5 Bio-secure protocols cricketers need to follow:
1. Saliva Ban
Post pandemic ICC has don’t want any player to be found positive of the COVID-19 as it spreads from human to human through intake of droplets. A lot of debate has been going around on this with many cricketers claiming that it will rule out reverse swing from the game. But going by the current scenario, the players will have to abide by the bio-secure protocols.
2. No Hand Shakes
Hugging and handshakes will be replaced by fist touch as the cricketers will have to avoid unnecessary touches with each other. Although there have been instances when cricketers have touched hands of one another but they are trying hard to adhere to the rules.
3. COVID-19 substitutes
The particular player will be examined by the doctors and if found positive he will then be self-isolating away from all the players.
4. Local Umpires
In the current Test series between England and West Indies, all match officials are from England. Before COVID-19, all umpires in the match used to be neutral to avoid any partiality in the match.
5. Food and accommodation
Everyone can eat in small groups and large gatherings will be avoided in the hotels to keep everyone safe.