Cricket will make a comeback post-Coronavirus-forced hiatus under the new guidelines put in place by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Kumar Sangakkara said it will be interesting to see how players deal with the latest rules when cricket resumes amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The ongoing global outbreak of the Coronavirus has forced all cricketing activities to shut down since mid-March to avoid the spread of the deadly virus, which has claimed more than 3.8 lakh lives across the world while infecting millions of people globally so far.
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However, cricket is trying to return to action in the upcoming days, but the cricketers will have to face some stiff challenges outside the competition, thanks to the ICC guidelines, like banning the use of saliva to shine the ball, the social distancing guidelines, no celebration during the matches for the safety of the players and staff on the field amid COVID-19 threat.
There is no doubt that the new guidelines will test the age-old habits of cricketers and Sangakkara, former Sri Lanka captain and the current president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), has highlighted the issue cricketers might face while following the new guidelines during the COVID-19 crisis.
Sangakkara said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected: “For fast bowlers or spinners, shining the ball is an instinctive thing, they have done it over so many years since they were kids.”
He further added, “Cricket is a social game, most of the time you spend in the dressing room – you talk, you chat. This will be a very clinical thing, you come ready to play, no warm-ups, you do everything right and you go home. So, it will be interesting to see how the players deal with that.”
Noteworthy, the international cricket could return early next month with England hosting West Indies in a three-Test series beginning July 8, subject to UK government approval.
(With IANS Inputs)
