MUMBAI: Even as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prepares the ground to host West Indies and Pakistan in the coming months in a “bio-secure environment”, thereby also providing other boards with a “rule book” to follow, batting legend Rahul Dravid has expressed his reservations.
Not necessarily that the ECB will not be able to pull if off it needs noting, but that not every board will be able to manage the complexities involved. Which are many.
“It is a bit unrealistic to have things at the level the ECB is talking about,” Dravid said during a webinar for YUVA, a non-profit organisation. “Obviously, the ECB is very keen to conduct these series because they have had no other cricket and it is right in the middle of the season. Even if they are potentially able to create a bubble and manage it in that way, I think it will be impossible for everyone to do it with the kind of calendar that we have, with the travelling that you do on tours and the number of people involved.”
For Dravid the way forward for cricket to resume safely is when better medication for COVID-19 is developed.
“All of us are hoping that things will evolve with time and get better once we have better medication. In case of the bio-bubble, you do all the testing, the quarantine and then on day two of the Test match, what if one player tests positive? What happens then? The rules, as they stand now, will see the Public Health Department coming in and putting everyone in quarantine,” he said.
He continued, “So that ends the Test match or the series and that ends all the expenses that were made to get everyone there and create that environment. We’re going to have to work with the Health Department and Government authorities to find out a way in which even if a player tests positive, the whole tournament isn’t cancelled.”
Cricket South Africa has in recent days also talked up plans of creating a ‘bio-bubble’ for cricketers and other stakeholders so that the “show could go on”. For CSA there is also a financial imperative as it is hoping that India will go ahead with its tour to the Rainbow Nation, which as per ICC’s Future Tours Programme, is scheduled for August.
Current thinking suggests England will look to fulfil their international fixtures in two grounds – the Ageas Bowl in Southampton and Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, both of which have large hotels “on site”. By limiting the number of grounds utilised, it should prove easier for ECB to maintain a virus-free zone and reduce costs.
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison has previously warned that the sport in England and Wales will take a £300m hit if no cricket is played this summer, and reiterated that the pandemic’s impact on the game has already proved “very significant”.
