Rahul Dravid, former India captain and current head of the NCA in Bengaluru, feels that the concept of resumption of sports in bio-secure venues thought by some boards is a bit unrealistic in the long run.
The ECB, according to reports, will be asking its players to assemble at the Ageas Bowl on June 23 and to stay away from their families for nine weeks until the end of the third Test against Pakistan. The series starts on August 20.
Even Cricket South Africa has announced its eagerness on trying out the bio-bubble scheme if India decides to tour in August.
In a webinar conducted in support of YUVA, a non-profit organization's relief and recovery efforts amid the pandemic, Dravid said, "It is a bit unrealistic to have things at the level the ECB is talking about. 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.”
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“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 traveling that you do on tours and the number of people involved,” he added.
Dravid also asked some pertinent questions, “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.”
“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 canceled," Dravid who heads the National Cricket Academy added.
Dravid also talked about cricket in empty stadiums and how it shouldn’t affect the performance of individuals to a larger extent.
"Players love to perform in front of a crowd, engage with their fans and that adds incredible complexity to a sport. I think that's what a player will definitely miss. There is a personal self-satisfaction when you perform in front of a large crowd," Dravid, who amassed 13, 288 runs in 164 Test matches, said.
(sportstar.thehindu.com inputs)
