Due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak, all the cricketing activities have been suspended until further notice. The Indian PM Narendra Modi has even announced a 21-day lockdown which might end in the fans won’t be able to get an IPL this year.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) however is planning to install Coronavirus checkpoints and isolation units on grounds to get some cricket for the fans with empty grounds.
“We’re mapping out what international matches would look like behind closed doors. The advice around mass gatherings was 500 people or fewer. That was guided by the potential impact on critical services like paramedics and doctors,” ECB director Steve Elworthy said.
Elworthy then talked about precautions to be taken by saying, “You would likely have to work within that number (which would be made up of essential matchday staff) then you have to think about medical provisions so that everyone who comes in is clear.”
“So, it’s how you test them at the gate, the isolation units that you have to put in. These are considerations we are thinking about,” he added.
The ECB Director of events Elworthy then went on to say that they are ready to do anything possible to conduct a game a cricket under current circumstances.
“We’re now thinking of all these things, the risks posed, and it just gets bigger and wider. But if that is the situation we are faced with then we will deliver on absolutely every single one of those to make sure it does happen,” he said.
Thus, it will be interesting to see whether ECB pulls this one off and brings the game of cricket for all the fans who are waiting for some action.
(With PTI inputs)
