As part of the interim health safety measures adopted by the ICC amid the ongoing pandemic, players could be replaced during Test matches on the basis of showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Anil Kumble, the former India captain and current chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee, said it was necessary to come up with the new form of player substitution in these circumstances.
Currently, teams are allowed to replace players only when they go down with concussion. But the medical advisory team of the ICC felt the new substitution is important to be included in new Test playing conditions for matches played before the pandemic is over. In ODIs and T20Is, however, this won't be allowed.
"COVID-19 substitute (suggestion) came from the medical advisory team. The team believes that if any kind of symptom you develop, there have been many times players have developed flu symptoms and then they have come back on the 3rd day feeling better and come back into the Test match," Kumble told India Today.
"Whereas, in these Covid-19 times, the medical advisory team advised that if any player develops symptoms, they should be out of the game completely. He should be treated like a concussion substitute wherein a like to like replacement should come in. He's out of the game."
"The substitute will be treated like a concussions substitute so that he can play and participate in the game. The player with symptoms will be out of the game," he added.
Kumble, though, also urged players to ensure they are looking after themselves, as it is almost impossible for authorities to keep a watch on their every activity. The health safety should be a collective endeavour in these times.
"Even the dressing room environment may not be the same. It's the new normal. We may have to create certain distancing measures there," he said. "On the field, it's not easy to create that. I mean, football has already come back in some form."
"We have to closely monitor this. There is no fixed solution as things keep changing. We are hoping the recommendations we have made will enable the sport to come back. And then watch and learn. That's the message. You have to closely monitor each day as it comes and take it as it comes," Kumble added.
"It's not going to be easy. You can't really survey every player or what he does. It's the individual's responsibility as well as how he takes care of health and safety. At the same time, within the ground, there will be precautionary measures that will be done by the cricket boards."
International cricket will resume via the England-West Indies Test series, starting July 8 in a bio-secure bubble and while following all the health protocols.
Caribbean players have already reached there in the UK to adhere to the three-week quarantine period rule before focus shifts to the Tests to be played in Southampton and Manchester.
(Inputs from India Today)
