5 Bio-Secure Protocols Cricketers Need To Follow As Per ICC

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:

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1. Saliva Ban

For the time being the ICC has banned any saliva being applied on the cricket ball. Bowlers generally put saliva on the ball to make one side of the ball shine so that it could help in the reverse swing.

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

The players will also not be able to shake hands with anyone during a match. This will be extremely hard for everyone to get used to but this is the need of the hour.

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

If a player shows any signs or symptoms of him being affected by the virus, then he will be immediately replaced during a match. After concussion substitutes, a like for like replacement for COVID-19 has also now been introduced in the game by ICC.

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

Travelling isn’t safe during these trying times as everyone is worried about getting infected by coronavirus pandemic. As a result, local umpires will be officiating from now on during a match.

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

The players, match officials and broadcasters will now reside in the same hotel during a match. Players will not be allowed to go out for eating, shopping or any other purpose. Everyone shall also keep social distancing in mind, and will have to sit at a distance from each other.

Everyone can eat in small groups and large gatherings will be avoided in the hotels to keep everyone safe.