(UTV | COLOMBO) – The ICC has recommended the appointment of Chief Medical Officers and 14-day isolation training camps in its latest guidelines for the resumption of international cricket.
With several affected nations relaxing the lockdown restrictions imposed due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday has issued comprehensive guidelines primarily focusing on the resumption of the gentlemen’s game. According to the apex cricket governing body, the purpose of the guidelines is to safeguard the resumption of cricket activities including training, playing and travelling in countries and regions.
Assisted by the Member Medical Representatives, the guidelines are set up by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee. The ICC has recommended the appointment of Chief Medical Officers and 14-day isolation training camps in its latest guidelines for the resumption of international cricket. The major development has come after the England cricket team started their individual skill-based training by regrouping the national squad prior to their forthcoming assignment against the West Indies.
England were earlier scheduled to play the West Indies in July before the deadly coronavirus made its presence felt and disrupted the 2020 calendar. “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 said while providing a framework for the resumption of cricket.
“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,” the world governing body of cricket added.
The primary considerations in developing the ‘ICC Back to Cricket Guidelines’ are as follows:
1. Safety first
a. The ICC’s priority is the wellbeing of the entire cricket community.
b. The resumption of cricket activities should begin only if there is no perceived or known risk that doing so might result in an increase in the local CV-19 transmission rate.
c. Every effort should be made to ensure that risks associated with the cricket environment i.e. field of play, training venue, changing rooms, equipment, management of the ball have been mitigated before any training session or match.
2. Government’s advice
a. ICC Members (and their own cricket communities) should be guided by the advice of their respective governments in relation to when sporting activity is resumed. Where sporting activities has been expressly forbidden by governments, no cricket activity should commence until approval to do so has been obtained from the government.
b. ICC Members should be guided by the advice of their respective governments in relation to travel restrictions (domestic and international) and quarantine requirements.
3. Leadership and the wider impact of cricket
a. Cricket can play a leadership role in combatting global pandemic by providing positive role models for society.
b. As the international governing body for cricket, the ICC is looking to provide all within the sport –individuals, teams, and national cricket federations – with clear direction to support a safe and successful back to cricket regime.
c. Cricket plays an important positive role in supporting individuals to gain a sense of normalcy in their lives and carries with it important physical and mental health benefits.