BCCI issues guidelines for the resumption of Domestic Cricket.
Cricket is resuming all around the world with new norms but with the same excitement. England marked the resumption of cricket by holding a test match against West Indies. Also, the County Cricket has begun in England with new normals.
To start the cricketing season in India BCCI have been working round the clock to ensure that the game resumes with smoothness. So the Board of Control for Cricket in India has issued a detailed guideline to the state associations for the resumption of domestic cricket activities.
the BCCI has asked the state bodies to select a Chief Medical Officer, who alongside the clinical staff will be answerable for keeping up the bio-security rules during the whole term of camps, as well as the matches.
Resumption of preparing in any shape or structure will be dependent upon endorsement from the local administration.
The thought is to make a bio-secure condition, however as per the rules, regardless of whether a few observers are permitted, they have to follow an exacting convention.
All the players and staff must download the Arogya Setu app for contact tracing, protection and prevention. Wearing a triple layer or N95 mask (without a valved respirator) over nose and mouth in public places is mandatory for all players and staff from the time they leave their home till the end of the camp (optional while training).
- Travel Protocols for Players and Staff:
It will be the responsibility of the State Association that proper transportation and more importantly safe transportation facilities are made available for the players and staff members. All the transportation facilities made available for them must not be used by the general public.
Also, the staff’s managing the bus must provide complete travel and medical history information. The bus driver and helper must wear a triple layer mask covering nose and mouth at all times and sanitize their hands frequently.
All the players must follow social distancing as per BCCI’s SOP any only one player must sit on one seat while travelling. Players should avoid sitting in the driver’s cabin. The helper must provide hand sanitizer to each individual before they enter the bus.
Players and staff who wish to travel from their must use their personal vehicle. Players who cannot travel in their personal vehicles should ideally be kept in the academy/hotel with the rest of the squad.
If they are using public transport they should avoid sharing a taxi, rickshaw. Also if they travel by bus they should ensure that all the norms are followed.
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Ground Protocols:
BCCI has made it clear that no spectator or visitor must be allowed to visit the ground. If any visitors are permitted, then they must be compulsorily screened using non-contact thermometer before entry into the stadium/ground.
They must wear a triple layer mask covering their nose and mouth at all times. Only one entry gate must be open rest all must be close. The ground staff must do all the maintenance of the ground during non-training hours.
The number of catering and dressing room attendant staff must be reduced to minimal. All the ground staff must follow protocols of wearing a mask and sanitizing their hands from time to time. Also, all equipment must be sanitized at the end of each practice session.
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Training Protocols:
The morning training session would begin with body temperature checkup of all players and staff followed by nets session where all social distancing norms must be observed.
All individual and team kit bags must be sanitized every day twice, once before training and after the training. Sanitisation of cricket balls to be done after discussion with relevant authorities at BCCI headquarters.
Spitting and freeing from nasal/respiratory emissions on the ground or at wherever other than washrooms will be precluded. Individuals doing so should dispose of the dirty tissue paper safely in the dustbins.
All members should avoid stepping out of the team environment or meet anyone outside the team environment, including family members, for the entire duration of the camp as per BCCI directions.
If any member is required to travel outside the team environment for unavoidable circumstances, upon his/her return, he/she should be isolated from the rest of the squad and medically assessed.
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The 60 Barrier:
BCCI has stated that no support staff or the umpire should be allowed for training if their age is over 60. However, this is a big blow for Cricket Association Bengal and Baroda Cricket Association since they have Arun Lal and Dav Watmore as their head coaches.
The coaches are trying their best to be in contact with the players. Lal, Joydeep Mukherjee, Ranadeb Bose and Utpal Chatterjee – have been coordinating with the players over Zoom calls. “At the moment, it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. Let’s see how it goes. It’s so uncertain at the moment,” Lal said.
Also, the curators who have an age of 60+ must not come to the ground since it can prove to be fatal for them.
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Also, read about IPL 2020 which is all set to begin from 19 September.