The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the sporting fraternity quite hard with almost everyone struggling to get back outside and play and enjoy sports. Cricket is one such sport that is currently struggling given that it has been over two months since the last international match happened.

Apart from bilateral series, the IPL was postponed indefinitely and the ICC T20 World Cup is on the verge of being pushed to 2022. However, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham feels that cricketers and administrators will have to “adapt” to playing before empty stadiums to save the sport from financial ruin.

ICC board members may discuss shifting T20 World Cup to 2022, says report

The big three boards of international cricket, England Australia and India are fearing they could face a severe financial crisis due to postponement of events leading to slashing of revenues.

“If the situation is that the only way to play cricket is behind closed doors then I think it is something that we have to adapt to as players,” Neesham told ESPNCricinfo.

In April, Cricket Australia had announced the retrenchment of 80 percent of its staff, even as players from both countries braced up for pay cuts.

29-year-old Neesham said, “The reality is that it is a huge financial challenge for a lot of cricket boards to still run without any revenue coming in from games. So obviously we want to try and keep the sport in as good a state as it can be in. If that means playing games behind closed doors, the guys just need to suck it up and get it done.”

However, he admitted that there was nothing like playing in front of packed crowds.

“Certainly all things considered you would rather have fans in the ground. It adds a lot to the game and to the spectacle. But you want to adapt to the situation that is given to you,” he said.

(PTI inputs)