Once Coronavirus pandemic subsides, cricket could see a number of changes. The ICC Cricket Committee has already recommended ban on saliva to shine the ball and there is a high chance that the matches will be held in empty stadiums for some time.
Sharing his views on the same, India skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday (May 30) said he does not really know whether the game of cricket will change a lot or not. However, Kohli expects the players to avoid hi-five or handshakes until some sort of vaccine comes out.
"Game changing a lot? Man I do not know what is going to happen, it is so strange thinking even of practice sessions like instinctively you want to clap/hi-five, but you cannot do that, you will meet people after a long time, and you would have to fold hands and stay away," Kohli told teammate Ravichandran Ashwin during an Instagram chat.
"I know it sounds strange, it might be a permanent feature until there is some sort of cure or vaccine that comes out, we will need to make that a part of our routine," he added.
The Indian captain also reckons that players won't find it hard to acclimatise to the new challenges.
"We all find it strange, with all things in life, it won't be that difficult to make a part of our lives," Kohli concluded.
On May 22, the ICC came up with multiple recommendations for its member nations on how they can safely resume training and on-field play in the near future, including a 14-day pre-match isolation camp to ensure teams are free of the deadly virus.
Regular hand sanitising when in contact with the ball, no loo or shower breaks while training, minimising time spent in the changing room before and after a game, no use of saliva on the ball and no handing over of personal items (cap, sunglasses, towels) to fellow teammates or the on-field umpires are among the other guidelines issued.
All international cricket has been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 outbreak across the globe.
(With ANI inputs)
